Storms hammer Holland area; Rain totals nearly 7 inches in less than a day

Sat, Jun 20, 2009    to del.icio.us

By The Holland Sentinel

An intense but narrow band of strong thunderstorms ripped through southern Ottawa and northern Allegan counties beginning about 8 p.m. Friday.

Between 2 and 3 inches of rain fell within an hour, leaving streets in Holland flooded, stalling cars and letting folks kayak in the roadways.

Storms knocked out power to some Grand Haven Township homes at around 10 p.m. Friday. The Board of Light & Power said electricity was completely restored by 1 a.m.

The National Weather Service said the rainfall total for the Holland area from Thursday night through late Friday was 6.87 inches.

Sewage reportedly was backing up and flooding basements in Holland-area homes Friday and today.

Police responded to numerous reports of traffic problems from flooded roads and branches and trees brought down by fierce winds. Gusts of more than 50 mph were reported at Tulip City Airport.

In South Haven, a wind gust of 56 mph was recorded at around 2 p.m. Friday as storms moved through the southern part of the state.

Streets throughout the Holland area were flooded, stranding motorists. Manhole covers were forced off in some areas.

At about 9:45 p.m., a section of Chicago Drive in Holland was closed when 16 cars were stuck in water beneath the U.S. 31 overpass.

Low areas in Zeeland around Alice Street and 104th Avenue experienced extensive flooding, but even storm sewers in higher-lying areas were overtaxed, leaving some subdivision streets impassable for short periods.

At Hope College, spokesman Tom Renner reported many buildings flooded, with a cleanup effort under way overnight. The lower level of the college's Schaap Science Center had an estimated 3 feet of flood water, Renner reported, and the college bookstore in the DeWitt Center experienced flooding.

A caller told WZZM-TV this morning that people living in Ottogan Estates, located on Ottogan Road near 96th Avenue in Holland Township were unable to leave their homes. The caller said homeowners were trapped because there is only one way in and one way out of the mobile home park.

Tribune Multimedia Editor Mark Brooky and WZZM-TV contributed to this report.