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Dickinson County declares local disaster after violent storms; officials urge documentation for state aid and investigate siren complaints
Summary
After storms with reported gusts up to 138 mph and multiple funnel clouds, Dickinson County commissioners approved a proclamation of local disaster covering June 4–12; staff asked townships to document damage and said they will follow up on reports of sirens failing in some areas.
County management reported that a severe weather event between June 4 and June 12 produced widespread infrastructure damage and numerous emergency calls across Dickinson County. "We had sustained winds on the eighth of over 100 mile an hour. Uh, one gust was recorded at 138 mph just south of Holland," the county management director said, and staff described snapped distribution-line bolts from Holland to Gypson, deep roadway washouts and structural damage in several towns.
Because the cumulative impact of the storms could contribute toward the state threshold for disaster assistance, staff recommended and commissioners approved a proclamation of local disaster emergency (resolution 061126A) to cover the June 4–12 period and to support coordinated damage reporting. County staff asked townships to document and photograph road and bridge damage to strengthen any state request; officials cautioned that state aid depends on reaching a statewide threshold (staff cited a $5 million threshold for state consideration).
Residents in a few communities reported sirens did not sound during the storm. Emergency management staff explained that most outdoor sirens are radio-controlled and can be disabled by power outages at individual siren sites — emphasizing that outdoor sirens are designed to warn people who are outdoors, not to wake those asleep indoors — and said they triggered sirens where appropriate and would investigate specific local failures. Staff described backup methods for activation (portable radio, tower console) and pledged follow-up with township officials about particular siren sites.
The commission also debated and approved a separate resolution amending the fireworks discharge window for the county (Resolution 061126): commissioners voted 2–1 to extend the period for legal discharge to June 27 through July 5. Several planning and land-use conditional-use permits (telecommunications tower CUP26-06; woodworking/cabinet shop CUP26-07; guided outfitter CP26-08) were reviewed and approved on staff recommendations during the same meeting.
Commissioners approved the disaster proclamation unanimously and added it to the day’s agenda before voting to adjourn.
