Ice Storm 2025 Update #3

At this moment in time, the reality is that verifying whether electricity has been restored to your specific home can only be done by someone physically going to check it. If you're unsure of the status of your electricity, please try to reach out to a friend, a neighbor or a local realtor who can verify whether or not your home has power. If your home is still without electricity, the city will make sure you're added to their repair list, and we know they will do their best to get it restored as soon as possible.

Realtor Lee Ford offered to help and can be reached at 248-229-6490. According to Google, we have 173 realtors listed on this link… one of these local professional men or women may also be able to help you. Try this link: Realtors

Tell us about what is being done for many in the community, 8 days still in the dark cold.

## The Brief - Full or part-time residents should sign up for www.smart911.com to help emergency services in the future. This provides Emmet county with key information about you for notification, evacuation and other emergencies. It is designed to help 911 wherever you live.

- Emmet county is coordinating emergency services across the region. They have better access to the state emergency resources and run an emergency operations center (EOC) to stay on top of coordination.

- The City Facebook page, HS Police Facebook page, Petoskey Facebook Page, and the City website provide updates when they can.

- Non-Emergency Citizen Requests: 211 or (231) 348-1704

- For the latest updates, visit **www.gtlakes.com**, follow us on Facebook, or call 1-888-485-2537. They have a 1,000 person basecamp setup at the Otsego County Fairgrounds in Gaylord, MI. This basecamp provides housing, food, and laundry services for the contract crews who have traveled from across the country to help with our rebuild and restoration.

- Sign up for the City Emails to stay up to date or text HARBORSPRINGS (in CAPS) to the number 91896 to receive updates on your phone. Remember to confirm YES when asked to reply.

## **LAST SKI DAYS **

- Posted on April 5th, 2025: Nub’s Nob was open today and tomorrow from 9 AM to 4:30 PM. The Green, Red and Purple lifts will be on. The majority of the frontside runs are open. It’s spitting rain this morning, but that is forecast to stop soon. Please be aware that following the ice storm, there are many downed trees, please stay to the open runs only. Lift tickets are $25 daily for the **last weekend.** Thanks for a great season and thanks for skiing at Nub’s Nob. The Highlands is now closed. The resort will reopen for the summer on May 2.

- Overheard at the ski slope. “I don’t have to change out of my ski clothes when I go home.”

**- -

## Help Needed and Help Offered

## Food - Please donate & help available at Manna Food Project: https://www.mannafoodproject.org/about/

- Please donate & help available at Harbor Springs Food Pantry: https://www.facebook.com/HarborSpringsFoodPantry/

- Pick up food at the local groceria’s - they may have free food available to help.

## People - If you cannot find help (non-emergency) feel free to reach out to weloveharborsprings@gmail.com, and we will try to track down some answers. We have volunteers that can help you or drive you to Walgreens, Kebel or to the phone stores to re-up your monthly plans.

- Nate Graham is coordinating extra help for people cleaning up yards, who need extra food, or need small repairs. Please text him on his mobile, and he will coordinate help: (231) 838-6254. There are many able-bodied young people and contractors willing to help.

## Clean-Up - Debris Management: **On 4-5-25, Emmet County Emergency Management added three additional debris drop locations for Emmet County residents. For more information: Debris Drop-off Locations. EOC reminds citizens these sites are only for tree debris. Thank you to the Little Traverse Bay Conservancy.

- **Storm Damage Assessment – Your Help is Needed **Damage assessment teams have begun their work, utilizing both ground and air teams to ensure a comprehensive evaluation. This process will continue over the coming weeks as we gather critical information and assess the full extent of the impact. If you have experienced damage to your home or property, we kindly ask that you report it through the link below. Your input will be invaluable in ensuring that resources and assistance are directed to those who need them most.

**Self-Reporting Survey:** Complete Damage Report

- **Storm Damage Clean Up and Repair: **Residents are encouraged to use caution when obtaining services related to storm damage. Residents are encouraged to:

- Get in touch with your insurance company,

- Speak to a local licensed professional

- Review credentials and references

- Get more than one written estimate

- Ask for a contract and read it carefully.

- Avoid paying in cash, and do not pay the full amount until the job is completed to your satisfaction.

- **Generators: **For those on portable generators that now need to get your furnace or water pump running, don’t hack the generator connection into your panel. Electricians have some ways to help wire the generator safely without causing risk for those rebuilding the power system. Call an electrician!

**- -

## Shelters Offering Vital Support: ** Warming shelters remain operational and are ready to assist with food, water, and medical care. Location status and hours will be changing and updated daily** **

**For April 5, 2025:**

- **Odawa Hotel: 24 hours, **1444 US-31, Petoskey, MI 49770

- **Pellston High School: Closed, 172 Park St. Pellston,** MI 49769

- **Resort Township Hall: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. **2232 Resort Pike Rd, Petoskey, MI 49770

- **Bear Creek Township Hall: 24 hours, **373 N Division Rd, Petoskey, MI 49770

- **Petoskey City Hall:** closing after 4-4-25,101 E Lake St, Petoskey, MI 49770

- **Petoskey Genesis Church, Monday 4-7 to Thursday 4-10, 9am to 5pm on 4-4-25, 1124 Northmen Dr.** Petoskey, MI 49770

- **Holy Childhood of Jesus Catholic Church:** 24 hours, 150 W. Main St, Harbor Springs, MI 49740

- **Church of the Straits:** CLOSED, contact Bill Doest 269-650-1642 for assistance

- **Springvale Twp. Hall:** 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. , 8198 E. Mitchell, Petoskey MI 49770

- **Cross Village Community Center:** 24 hours, 5949 Wadsworth, Cross Village MI

- **Bliss Township Hall-** 24 hours, 265 W. Sturgeon Bay Tr., Levering MI 49755

- **Center Township Hall-** 12pm to 8pm , 981 W. Van Rd., Pellston, MI 49769

- **Epsilon Community Church-** (10am – 8 pm) 8204 E. Mitchell, Petoskey, MI 49770 (hot showers and Laundry Facilities available) bring your own detergent. Call 231-348-8432

## **Resources** - Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation has launched an Emergency Response Fund to support local recovery efforts. Their intention is to keep this open for future emergencies.

## **Letter** **A Heartfelt Thank You Received from the Community, to City Staff, **

Dear City Staff,

We, the residents of Harbor Springs, would like to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude for your tireless dedication during the recent power outage and the challenges posed by the ice storm.

Your efforts have not gone unnoticed, and we are truly thankful for the unwavering commitment you've shown in bringing our city back to life. From the first moments of the storm to the gradual restoration of power, you've worked through difficult and often dangerous conditions, showing resilience and compassion.

Your quick response to set up warming shelters, keep communication open, and ensure the safety and well-being of residents is a testament to the strength of our community and the people who serve it.

We want to acknowledge the long hours spent in freezing temperatures, the injuries sustained, and the hard work put in by our electric crews, the Public Works team, and all those behind the scenes. You’ve worked not just for the city’s infrastructure but for the people—ensuring our homes are restored, safety is prioritized, and emergency services are available.

While it is easy to forget the faces behind the power lines and phone calls, please know that the community is fully aware of the sacrifices and challenges you've faced. We appreciate the patience you've asked of us, knowing that you’re working as fast and safely as possible to restore power to every household.

Thank you for keeping us informed with timely updates, for coordinating with neighboring communities, and for all the coordination it takes to make something as complex as this happen. Your efforts are truly what make this town special.

We are proud to call Harbor Springs home, and that is in no small part due to the incredible staff working day and night to restore our city. You are all heroes, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

With sincere appreciation, The Harbor Springs Community

Please share.

## Thank you Thank you for reading our We Love Harbor Springs newsletter and, more importantly, for loving Harbor. Our 50th newsletter just came out on Substack, with our first one published May 9, 2024. We started by focusing on the zoning code and how to increase communication between the city, property owners, and residents to find the best path forward. We’re well along that path.

We invite you to take a few minutes to look through the earlier newsletters as they are an excellent resource for information and education on the many topics that have been raised. They’re an easy place to catch up on what’s been done, what’s next, and where we need your voices going forward.

To see the archive of past newsletters:

- Open your newsletter email and scroll all the way to the end

- Click RESTACK, CANCEL

- Past articles will all come up (we hope…).Updates via text, phone, social media, website, and email ? — wherever you are, we’ll try to reach you.

Share

## More Pictures - -

- -

- -