Michigan –-(Ammoland.com)- There are numerous occasions when Michigan Department of Natural Resources divisions work together to perform a good number of tasks, but this cooperation is often unknown to the general public.
Recently, in the Upper Peninsula, an especially great deal of cooperation was in evidence between several DNR divisions, as well as outside entities, called to respond to the impacts of two vicious storm systems that struck the western part of the region over a 10-day period.
“Spectacular work was done by our DNR staff and outside crews who worked to put our parks back together after the damage caused by Mother Nature,” said Ron Olson, chief of the DNR Parks and Recreation Division. “We appreciated the patience of the public and the public valued the quick response to this emergency.”
On the night of July 11, 2016, a tremendous storm – some analysts would later say it was the worst in 1,000 years – moved east from the Saxon Harbor area of Iron County, Wisconsin toward Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.
The storm dumped up to 11 inches of rain, in just four hours, causing flooding that washed out a campground and much of the marina at Saxon Harbor, damaging dozens of boats, sweeping camping vehicles into Oronto Creek, and turning Lake Superior into muddy, brown slurry.
Montreal (Wisconsin) Fire Department assistant chief Mitch Koski died responding to the emergency. His vehicle was washed into the harbor where he drowned.
Roadways were eaten away, flooded over and shut down. Trees toppled from along the riverbank and were washed, with boats and other debris, miles out into Lake Superior.
As the storm continued east, across the state line into Michigan, the rainfall eased, but the storm still packed plenty of punch.
The National Weather Service confirmed an EF1 tornado struck three miles south of Bessemer. Damage included a roof that was torn from an old ice rink and dumped into the rim of Sunday Lake.
Elsewhere in Gogebic County, flash flooding cut away more roadways and felled more trees. The swollen waters of Oman Creek rendered the DNR’s boating access site near the stream’s mouth a deserted island.