Three tornados, ice storm, flooding in 2023

Suzanne Nolan Wisler, The Monroe News
·3 min read

All this week, The Monroe News is looking back at some of the stories and photos of 2023.

MONROE COUNTY — 2023 brought severe weather to Monroe County, including an ice storm, flooding and at least three tornados: one in Dundee and two in Frenchtown Township. One local storm even drew attention from the governor’s office.

A tree limb hangs over the wires off Hurd Road in Frenchtown Township after an ice storm in February.
A tree limb hangs over the wires off Hurd Road in Frenchtown Township after an ice storm in February.

Severe weather began in February when a winter storm delivered ice and freezing rain. The storm resulted in numerous power outages, including some that lasted for days. Gas leaks and many downed trees also were reported.

Previous Coverage: Thousands remain without power in Monroe County after ice storm

In April, a tornado passed through downtown Dundee, causing damage to buildings, vehicles and trees.

The EF0 tornado — the least severe on the Enhanced Fujita Scale used to measure tornado strength – touched down near the intersection of Petersburg and Brewer roads and traveled northeast for 7.3 miles. Winds were estimated at 75 mph and the tornado’s path measured 75 yards wide. The tornado toppled trees, blew out windows, downed limbs and caused damage to shingles and cars. No injuries were reported.

Previous Coverage: UPDATE: National Weather Service confirms tornado hit Dundee Saturday morning

Dundee also had a tornado in 2010.

The first 2023 tornado in Frenchtown Township was in June. The EF1 storm struck neighborhoods along Lake Erie.

Previous Coverage: Report: Frenchtown tornado packed 90-mph winds, reached 400 feet wide

No one was injured, but trees and branches were blown down, and at least one home was severely damaged. Others saw damage in Detroit Beach, Woodland Beach, Indian Trails and Grand Beach. A large tree fell at South Grove and East Promenade in Grand Beach. More than 700 were without power.

The second tornado in August brought Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist to Monroe.

Previous Coverage: Lt. Gov. Gilchrist surveys tornado damage; state of emergency declared for Monroe County

Gilchrist came to Frenchtown Villa mobile home community to assess damage from an EF1 tornado the night before. The tornado traveled 4.88 miles and was 200 yards wide. Winds peaked at 100 mph. No one was injured.

Michigan Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist watches live drown images and footage of the storm damage from a tornado that touched down in August at Frenchtown Villa in Monroe County. Controlling the drone was Monroe County Sheriff Capt. Dave Raymond.
Michigan Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist watches live drown images and footage of the storm damage from a tornado that touched down in August at Frenchtown Villa in Monroe County. Controlling the drone was Monroe County Sheriff Capt. Dave Raymond.

Gilchrist and his staff began their Monroe County visit with a tour of Monroe County Central Dispatch and Emergency Management on Raisinville Road. Then, they drove to the Newport community to meet with law enforcement, cleanup crews, members of the Monroe County Sheriff's Mounted Division and residents of Frenchtown Villa and Elizabeth Woods. Gilchrist viewed storm damage from a drone operated by Capt. Dave Raymond of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and offered community residents the support of the governor's office.

Cleanup at Frenchtown Villa and Elizabeth Woods began soon after a tornado struck in August.
Cleanup at Frenchtown Villa and Elizabeth Woods began soon after a tornado struck in August.

Monroe and Wayne Counties were included in a state of emergency declared by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to make state resources were available to help both counties recover from flooding and tornado damage caused by storms.

"FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) came out and completed a two-day assessment with the fire chief (Wendy Stevens)," Kyle Brant, township clerk, said. "They said we met the threshold for funding. We're not exactly sure how it will be dispersed. Hopefully, it will help. A lot of people were displaced. It was a very unfortunate circumstance."

Brant said work continues on homes and infrastructures at Frenchtown Villa.

"To my knowledge, work is still being done," he said.

Frenchtown Township also had a tornado in 2010. The township had severe flood damage in 2018.

The day before Frenchtown Township's second tornado, flooding affected Monroe County, Wayne County, Washtenaw and Lenawee counties.

Kylie Barron of Monroe Township holds her baby boy, 8-month-old Orlando Obuch, as she was helped out of her flooding home on Plum Creek Drive in Evergreen Acres in Monroe Township in August by Capt. 2 Jack Richter and Chief Randy Howe (left) of the LaSalle Township Volunteer Fire Department and firefighter Scott Pancone and Capt. David Nadeau of the Monroe Township Fire Department.

Previous Coverage: Storms cause flooding in Monroe County

According to Susan Martinez, emergency management specialist at the Monroe County Emergency Management, more than 600 residents submitted a survey so that information could be collected to access damages. Flooding resulted in statewide damage from the storm, not just Monroe County.

Following a Sept. 20 Monroe News story, the agency received many calls inquiring about the survey and how to get help.

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Martinez said although the survey deadline has expired, she continues to document information from Monroe County residents. At this time, no determination has been made if the flooding has been classified as a natural disaster and if assistance will be provided from FEMA.

— Reporter Lisa Vidaurri-Bowling contributed to this report. She can be reached at LVidaurriBowling@gannett.com. Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@monroenews.com.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Three tornados, ice storm, flooding in 2023