Contact: Sgt. Joel Roon - 616.632.6106
Email: joel.roon@kentcountymi.gov
Supervisor Approval: Sgt. Roon 
Incident Type: Severe Weather Event 

Kent County/Grand Rapids Severe Weather Event, 9/11/19

On the evening of Wednesday 9/11/19 at 7:58pm the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for Kent County. The city of Grand Rapids and Kent County immediately activated the warning sirens to alert the public. In the three hours following, both the Grand Rapids and the Kent County 911 dispatch centers received a large number of 911 calls, including 330 to the City of Grand Rapids and 250 to the Kent County dispatch center.

In the wake of the storm, more than 23,000 Consumers Energy customers were left without power in Kent County. The majority of damage included downed trees and limbs, but some homes and apartment complexes were significantly affected in the city of Grand Rapids and Ada Township. Despite the damaged homes/apartments, there were no reports of significant injuries from this storm.

The National Weather Service has been conducting damage assessment all day on 9/12/19, as well as city of Grand Rapids and Kent County Emergency Management. The Technical Services Unit of the Kent County Sheriff’s Office flew UAV flights over damaged areas in the County to identify the extent of damage. At this time, there are two dwellings significantly impacted in the County (Ada Township), with more affected in the city of Grand Rapids.

United Way 211 has been an excellent partner to Kent County Emergency Management to address non- emergency resource needs and to compile information from citizens regarding storm damage locations. The 211 resource continues to be available day and night.

On 9/12/19, Consumers Power has made significant power restorations throughout the County and will continue to do so. Consumers Power expects to address many of the outages throughout the day and evening of 9/12/19.

According to the Kent County Road Commission, crews have cleared a majority of the downed trees and large debris from the county road system. Current road closures include (but are NOT LIMITED to) the following, for which utility lines are an issue.

Update from the Kent County Road Commission:

Crews have cleared a majority of the downed trees and large debris from the county road system. Current road closures include (but are NOT LIMITED to) the following, for which utility lines are an issue.

Grand River Drive: Michigan Street to Carl Drive
Michigan Street: Taos Avenue to Grand River Drive
Conservation Street: Pettis Avenue to Dogwood Avenue
Dogwood Avenue: Pettis Avenue to Conservation Street
Pettis Avenue: Honey Creek to Egypt Valley Avenue

Our crews will continue to work through the evening hours and respond as soon as utilities have safely negotiated the wires.