Thunderstorm Wind in Roscommon County, Michigan

Thunderstorm winds did widespread tree damage across all but extreme southeast Roscommon County, with well over 100,000 trees down. Most of the trees brought down were the largest and healthiest, as they had the highest tops and heaviest foliage. Widespread damage to residences, cottages, garages, vehicles was caused by falling trees, while the winds damaged and destroyed docks and boats on the lee shores of all county lakes. Consumers Power Company estimated over 100 miles of phone and power lines down in the county and electrical service remained out to thousands of homes and cottages for periods ranging from a few days to over a week. Average wind gusts in most areas were estimated in the 65 to 80 mph range which is consistent with the reports from the Lyon Twp supervisor using a calibrated anemometer. Near catastrophic damage was done by unusually intense microbursts in three areas, where wind gusts were estimated in the 85 to 100 mph range: the Flag Point area (worst localized damage) on the east shore of Higgins Lake, Comfort and Detroit Points, on the west shore of Higgins Lake, and the communities of Artesia Beach and St. Helen, along the south and southeast shores of Lake St.Helen. An 11-year old female, accompanied by four other family members, was killed when the pontoon boat she was in flipped while returning to its dock; she became trapped under the craft and rescue efforts were delayed by blocked roads in the area. (F11O) A man and wife, riding ORV trails east of the community of St. Helen, were stranded by trees brought down by thunderstorm winds. Subsequently, the man suffered a heart attack. Because of the blocked trails, the wife was forced to walk several miles to a local cottage to obtain assistance. Rescue efforts were hampered by hundreds of downed trees blocking trails, and local residents assisted with chain saws to get the EMT vehicle back to the husband, who was dead when they arrived. (M46O)