ThinkingAfield.org

April 4, 2025

Damage assessment continues following historic ice storms in northern Michigan

All state-managed trails in a dozen northern Michigan counties, including parts of the eastern Upper Peninsula, will remain closed following the severe ice storms earlier this week that downed trees and power lines and caused thousands of residents to be without power and basic necessities. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources, along with the Michigan National Guard and partner organizations, is working to safely clear debris and eventually restore safe access, but this will take considerable time and effort.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Monday declared a 10-county disaster area, which was later expanded to 12 counties, including Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Mackinac, Montmorency, Oscoda, Otsego and Presque Isle.

DNR Parks and Recreation is assisting emergency crews in communities affected by the storms. This includes providing heavy equipment, sawyers and equipment operators to help with the cleanup.

Crews are working hard to clear debris from state parks and trails.

“Storm damage is extensive, and many trails are impassable and unsafe,” said Tim Novak, state trails coordinator for the DNR Parks and Recreation Division. “Significant time will be needed to assess and address affected areas. Many areas may also be affected by erosion and culvert issues from the recent rains.”

Paige Perry, DNR recreation trails specialist for the north-central Lower Peninsula, asked that trail users respect the closures and allow the first responders and other partners to safely assess damage, restore power and eventually clear debris from the multicounty trails system.

“The damage was extensive in the forests of the northern Lower Peninsula where our recreational trails are found, and the cleanup effort will take weeks or months,” Perry said. “More information will be released as soon as areas are cleared and the trails are once again safe to use. In the meantime, we ask that everyone explore Michigan’s other beautiful trails until the Tip of the Mitt is reopened.” Read more

April 3, 2025

Sawdust was flying at sites across northern Michigan as Department of Natural Resources and Michigan National Guard crews worked together to clear vital areas of trees downed by the massive weekend ice storm.

Of the more than 600 service members currently activated, approximately 130 are teamed up with Michigan DNR staff across the 12-county area hit hardest by the storm that stretches across the northern tip of the Lower Peninsula and into the southern tip of the Upper Peninsula.

“We appreciate the Guard’s cooperation and help,” said Jeff Stampfly, Michigan’s state forester and chief of the DNR’s Forest Resources Division. “There is a lot of work here to be done.”

Paul Rogers, DNR fire prevention specialist, was working with the chain saw crews and said they had cleared miles of roads Thursday in Emmet County.

“They’re doing well and making progress,” he said. Rogers shared that the devastation was hard to describe.

“There are areas where there is not much damage, and there’s an area where there is a 70-foot pine that looks like a toothpick sticking up, with every branch taken off of it,” he said.

The storm downed trees across the area, leaving some forested areas looking like they had been mowed. The storm blocked many roads and knocked out power to thousands of homes. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a 10-county disaster area on Monday which was later expanded to 12 counties, including Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Mackinac, Montmorency, Oscoda, Otsego and Presque Isle. Read more