B-93 Flood – River has fallen
June 24th, 2009 at 7:25 pm by Bill Steffen under Bill's Blog, News, Weather
The river has now fallen 6.5 feet (now below 12 feet on 7/1) since the crest on Monday 6/23. No heavy amounts of rain this week, so the river will stay within its banks. Thanks to everyone for the great comments! Idea from Bill: Bash got cancelled by the flood…so…anyone interested in putting together some kind of bash to raise a few bucks (obviously won’t be enough, but…) to cover some of the cost to people who had their cars flooded. Maybe the “Grand River Ole Opry”? Just a thought. This is the Grand River Level at Ionia. The graph should automatically update when a new gauge reading is taken, so keep coming back here for the latest. The crest is occurred around Noon Monday 6/23 in Ionia at 18.5 feet, and is down over 6 feet since then. Note the rapid rise that began around 9 PM Friday Night and continued through Saturday Night after the release of water at the Webber Dam. The gauge is located by the M-66 Bridge, so just a block or two upstream from where the cars were flooded. The river is still well below flood stage. The river has been at this level at least several times already this year in Ionia and no where near the level of 23.4 feet reached on May 25, 2004. Here’s the Press Release that Consumers Energy sent out when they released water from the Webber Dam in the 2004 flood. The Webber Dam is the largest dam (and has the largest pool of water behind it) on the Grand River at an elevation of 662.56 ft. above sea level. The Webber Dam has been in existence since 1907. Here’s a history of Consumers Energy Hydropower. Here’s a list of flooding that can be expected at different levels in Ionia:
| 21.0 | Expect minor flooding of several buildings in the Ionia Fairgrounds… a shopping mall near the fairgrounds… and several businesses and residences in the Southern portion of Ionia |
| 18.0 | Water surrounds Automobile Building at Ionia Fairgrounds |
| 16.0 | Expect extensive lowland overflow to occur |
| 15.0 | High water affects North Drive on Ionia Fairgrounds |
| 13.5 | MINOR LOWLAND OVERFLOW BEGINS |
| 13.0 | RIVER IS BANKFULL. OVERFLOW BEGINS IN LOW LYING AREAS ALONG THE RIVER NEAR THE IONIA FAIRGROUNDS |
hope u have full coverage!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Attention Flood Victims
Attention Flood Victims
250 dollar discount towards the purchase of a new or used vehicle. If you were covered with AAA insurance you may receive an additional 750.00 on top of all qualified rebates towards a new Dodge, Jeep or Chrysler. You may contact me at anytime. I am here to do what I can to help you through this process.
rfriedlund@henkelauto.com
269-998-8498
269-441-8111
Question and Answer time.
Q: Why did people park in a known flood plain?
A: Promoter’s designated the parking areas. At no time during the extensive
promotion of this event did organizers state that the south lot was in a
known flood plain. Local residents and others familiar with the area may
have known this, but many people in attendance were not local, and some
were attending this event for the first time.
Q: Why didn’t people park somewhere else?
A: People did not have a choice on where to park. Organizers posted three
different routes to three different parking areas on their web site.
Which route attendee’s used depended on where they were traveling
from. Signs directing traffic to the designated parking areas were
posted, beginning miles away from the venue. Anyone attempting to
bypass those routes and drive directly to the main fairground entrance
were told by police to turn around and go back they way they were
supposed to. This information was also broadcast on the radio.
Q: Why didn’t people check their cars when the first announcement was
advising them to so?
A: The announcement created a mass exodus of people attempting to do just
that. As people were exiting the gate area, promoters and security
personnel were telling people they had 20 minutes to get to their cars
and back or they would not be allowed to re-enter. Since they were
also advising people to send just one person from each party, that
meant risking being separated from their group.
Q: So what’s the big deal? Why couldn’t they just go check on their
vehicle and get back within 20 minutes?
A: There was only one way to get to the south lot, over a foot bridge
crossing a river. A very NARROW foot bridge. The mass exodus had
resulted in a huge back up of people attempting to get across, as
others were still entering via the foot bridge. In addition, once
someone made it across the foot bridge, many had to wade through
two large areas of knee deep water to get to their vehicles. It
would have been impossible to get across the bridge, move a vehicle
(by this time there were very few dry places remaining to relocate any
vehicles), wade back across both flooded areas, cross back over the foot
bridge, and make it back to the gate in 20 minutes. When I informed
event staff at the gate of this problem, the reaction was complete
indifference and disregard.
Q: Why did people disregard the first announcement?
A: Perhaps some did. Most however, did not. The fact of the matter is,
long before the first announcement was made, the only road out was already
7 feet underwater and impassable.
Q: If people saw standing water in the parking lot when they first arrived,
why didn’t they just turn around and leave?
A: It is true that there was a small area of water at the entrance which
people had to drive through to enter the lot. There was a police vehicle
with an officer in it parked right beside it, watching traffic enter.
The vehicles were single file, bumper to bumper for miles. Even if
someone had pulled into the lot, saw standing water, had access to the
same information that organizers had (which was that the river had
already crested at 13 feet), still didn’t feel good about parking
there and decided to leave immediately, they couldn’t have. There was
literally NO WAY OUT!
Q: Why were children, pregnant women, and thousands of others, wading
through river water designated by the Department of Public Health and the
Department of Natural resources as a “No Contact” river?
A: That information was not announced until long after the concert was
underway.
Q: What should I do if myself or my child get sick?
A: See a doctor. If the diagnosis states that the cause of the illness is
exposure to contaminated river water, see a lawyer.
Q: What should I do if my vehicle is damaged.
A: The first thing you should do upon regaining access to your vehicle is
take pictures, video, or both. Then see your insurance agent.
Q: What if I don’t have insurance?
A See a lawyer.
Q: Who is responsible?
A: I’m not sure who is responsible. That will probably be determined in
court. I am sure, however, who is NOT responsible. Innocent people
doing what they were told to do by the organizers, promoters, law
enforcement, and other officials and personnel associated with the
event.
The promoters, being Clearchannel, had to have Event Converage Insurance. I have already spoken to the insurance company that covered this event they say they are investigating..What is to investigate???? The promoters and Ionia Fair Assosiation didn’t care about the flooding they were made aware of on Friday evening about 9:15 and still had all them cars park in a FLOOD ZONE
i so like what you say here,ihave 5 kids withme and isay alof this.i dont have insance.but i stil need heip now because still have 5 kids to take car of .i have how i cant even get to because no way to get there.one in the hospital.. if there is anymore brithday bash i will never go to one.they just let defend are self….
Sheesh Wendy – learn how to spell (or type).
OR SPELL. Most of what you wrote I can’t even understand. Please, get an education and come back. Or just quit texting on your phone, maybe you’ll be able to communicate better.
You can’t drive with out insurance. If you have 5 kids and one is in the hopsital then you should not have even been at the party, you should be taking care of you kids.
OK everyone we now have a life director. Everytime you want to do something submit an application to BOATER and he will decide if you can do it.
Boater, I thought that was great! LOL
Hal Gillette – did you once work at Rapistan???
i deffinetly agree with you..
before people even got to the fair grounds saturday morn, the b-93 people were telling everyone on the radio, around 8 o’clock that morning to go to the south lot. what a joke. the biggest problem i have with this whole mess is that they knew about it earlier in the day and did not in form no-one until around 3 that afternoon. by then we were already stranded. goes to show you that money is more important then that so-called b-93 family.
I agree 100% to everything you just said!
I too agree with you Ron,I hope we can all get a lawyer that will take this case,I know I want in! I am very pissed about this and it is not the peoples fault for parking in those lots,it was all about money for B93 and the city of Ionia! If anyone out there can figure out what to do please let us all know so we can come together and fight this as a team! I dont know about you but just to get that 15.00 parking fee is not going to cut it with me!!
this is a FREE concert put on by b-93, how much would itr cost you to go see all those acts in concert..give me a break. and how much more money do u think they could have made if the concert finished out on sat.?? you say being notified around 3, i am sure no one would have been getting rich till 10 that night
I am also a member of the flooded in at birthdy bash club. I’m sure by now my 2005 Trial blazer is “toast”. John Tallman is an attorney who is willing to help us. We need to band together .His number is 616-361-8850
When it rains too hard or too fast for your facility, turn to FloodBreak the passive automatic flood gate.
What actions are we supposed to take at this point of time? My car was my only means of transportation. B93 did not handle this situation properly. If they had any information of the possibilty of a flood, they should have warned us. Now im hearing that they are going to pay me back the $15 I paid to park (in water). I dont want that money back…instead I want them to take responsibility for my ruined car. Because of them not informing us of the possibility of a flood, I cannot get to work. After the first warning, I got to my car as soon as possible without the huge crowd of people. I was told that I had 20 min. to get to my car and check it out. At this time I had to walk thru waist high water to get to my car, where I was told I had to grab my valuables and leave my car because we had no way to leave. I SHOULD NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS THAT WERE GIVEN TO ME. I dont care what was on the back of that ticket. If you had any knowledge that a flood could occur, cancel the concert and dont risk out safety. If I am NOT refunded the price of my car…I WILL TAKE LEGAL ACTION.
It is unlikely anyone will step up to help those who have no other transportation. I’m sure they’re concerned that doing so could be viewed in a court of law as a precedent, and an admission of guilt. I would suggest obtaining some kind of proof of lost wages (work schedule, signed affadavit from employer, etc.). If it is determined that someone is at fault, lost wages may be mitigated in court. If you are forced to pay for transportation to and from work, save your receipts.
Chelsea,
My daughter’s car is also still out there. I did not have comprehensive coverage on it. So its a total loss. If you hear of anyone starting a class action lawsuit please let me know.
Let me know if there is going to be a class action law suit I wii participate.
Please let me know if there is a suit filed – i would definitely be interested in joining in….
Steve, Im in the same boat as you,insurance doesnt cover anything by law I needed to carry PLPD on the car I let my son drive there and it too will not be covered and if he had my other car with full coverage I heard only what it was worth and that they wouldnt pay it off!So damm if we do and damm if we dont,we are too looking for other people who want to do something about this or if anyone out there know a good lawyer that can help all of us in this case!Please let me know,I want in!
no one told you to only have PLPD, that is your fault. And this is no different than an accident, if the car was a total loss the ins. co would only give you current blue book value.
Answer this… Did you watch the news? then you were warned of possible flooding in the area. So you chose to go to a “free” concert after a big storm. Flood warnings and flood adviseries were posted for the area. Next you drove threw standing water to get to that parking lot, right.Paid your $15 for parking and walked across a very narrow foot bridge to go to stand in line at this “free” concert. (driving threw water and having to cross over the same standing water via foot bridge were MAJOR warnings). Standing water in the “parking lot” and very soggy ground should have told you something as well. And again you are blaming b93.The radio station DID NOT MAKE YOU GO, YOU DID! Now they are offering you your money back, and towing your car out for you and you want them to PAY, they are. “I should not be held responsibile for following the instuctions given to me!” WHAT? Do you jump off a bridge, or play in traffic as instructed to do so? ” I will take legal action!” go ahead. Good luck finding a lawyer to sue your self, why would you?
People need to take resposibility for their own actions and stop blaming everyone else around.
Amen Sister, everyone is always trying to make their problems someone elses, you take a free party, and turn it in to a fiasco. It’s the risk you take when you put PLPD on a vehicle, if you can’t afford to replace it, it’ shouldn’t have PLPD, note to self: there are Deer in Michigan, same thing.
Mom of six,
I did not watch the news the night before. However, I did listen to B-93 during the 2 1/2 hour drive to the fairgrounds. This is a radio station that uses the catch phrase, “Breaking in when news breaks.” Station and city officials had been in touch with the National weather Service. They walked the grounds at 4 a.m. Saturday morning. The National weather Service has stated that they had advised city emergency personnel of the rising water. They went on to say that they do not know what information, if any, was relayed to station, fairground, and city officials. In addition, they stated that the updated information appeared on their official web site at 5 a.m. I would call this “Breaking news”. Parking attendants were collecting the $15 parking fees PRIOR to anyone entering the south lot, which was not visible from that point. I don’t think it is unreasonable to expect that in exchange for a parking fee, personnel would direct traffic to a reasonably safe place to park. They continued parking vehicles, and collecting $15 per vehicle, up until approximately 11:30 a.m., six and a half hours after the updated information appeared on the National Weather Service web site. As I stated before, cars were lined up single file, bumper to bumper for miles. Even as people entered the lot, driving through what was nothing more that a shallow creek at the time, It was impossible to turn around. There was a law enforcement officer parked on the other side of the “creek”, monitoring traffic and the water level. If the warning signs were as obvious as you think they were, wouldn’t it make sense for officials to take some kind of action? Do they watch the news, or just make things up when they broadcast it? It takes many people to organize an event of this size. Radio station officials, City officials, law enforcement and emergency personnel, event staff and countless volunteers (all from the local area). These people have an OBLIGATION to obtain and pass on this kind of information. I don’t believe any of them WANTED this to happen, and if you read everything I’ve written so far, carefully, you’ll see that I haven’t BLAMED anyone. I, you, nor anyone else has enough information at this point to find fault. The insurance companies will be conducting their own ivestgations. I believe those results will shed more light light on this unfortunate situation. Until that time, I’m withholding judgement. I would urge you to gather all of the facts before jumping to conclusions based on nothing more than specualtion and conjecture. As for your question about jumping off a bridge or playing in traffic if someone instructed me to. It depends on the circumstances. I am a United States Air Force veteran. If my commanding officer instructed me to do those things, I would obey his or her orders without hesitation. I have risked my life for my country many times because I followed orders. If that seems like an unfair comparison, then consider the comparison you’re making. People parking their cars where they were told to park is not the same as being told to jump off a bridge or play in traffic. If this had happened to only a handfull of people, I would agree with you. In that case, there would appear to be a lack of good judgement and common sense. But we’re talking about over 1,000 vehicles and thousands of people. Common sense is telling me that you are not a unintelligent woman, just uninformed.
Just the factsSorry if I offended you, I can tell by the changing of most stories that most of these people were not present last saturday/ or have no idea anyway as their story vary by the day. Thank you much sir for serving our county. And thank you much for trying to inform most people of the facts.As for the law inforcement they were there on order and being a that you were in the servie you should know that he/ she could not call things off without the right orders. Well anyway have a great day!
Mom of six,
No offense taken. This is obiously a very emotionally charged issue. I think people on both sides just want the right thing to be done. When people who were not there join the debate, they present opinions based on what they’ve heard. When people who were there read these opinions knowing that the information is wrong, it just adds to their frustration during a very stressful time. No matter which side people are on, the beauty of this forum is that everyone has the right to express their opinions as long as they do it in a respectful way. Encouraging spirited debate with tolerance and understanding in mind is what this country is all about. God bless you and your family (I have total respect for housewives and mothers), and God bless America.
sorry baby factory,but your view of this situation and event is very ignorant and you are a complete fool. you will soon figure this out for yourself. b93 is in the process of admitting guilt for negligence as we speak. when this all lands in front of a judge your uneducated opinion will likely change. good day!!
well you seem to know all don’t you.
Well for your info I am not a baby factory (look at the Dugger family or the many whom have twins, triplets and many more at a time.I myself have “had” 2 children. but we have a blended family and we have my husband’s 4 children 100% . I have helped to raise these “other” children for the last 17 years.
I am one person who knows how to do the right thing and help others every chance that I can, not one who looks for a free handout.
I bet most people on here complaining were not even in attendance and just are trying to step in and try and make a buck. Such a sick world we live in.
Sorry if I have offended anyone, have a great day.
Please,6 kids are you kidding me! I bet you would of went too if you didnt have 6 kids!Get off the welfare and get a job!
oh please, you are just looking at some one to blame and be mad at!1. I DO NOT NOR HAVE I EVER TAKEN STATE OR GOVERNMENT HANDOUTS.2. I do have a job and my husband has two.3. My children are taken care of and I still go enjoy the “bash” when I feel it is a safe place to be.4. my children are old enough(12-24) to attend but I chose to stay home and keep them home this year as well. (not exacly happy about it but never less safe.)5. So I chose to stay ,not use the tickets we stood in line for and keep my family safe and you chose to go or let your kid go in your car and want someone to pay you cause you didn’t pay the first time for insurance. not b93’s decision, it was yours.little advise, want to be mad at someone, LOOK IN THE MIRROR.
I am so with you on that like I said we all got to get together and fight this!
What is the possible enviromental damage? All those vehicles stranded in the water for how long?
That is an excellent question, and a major concern of mine as well. Those vehicles are marinating for days in water from a source designated “No Contact”. We need to know what is in that water that is potentially harmful to humans!!! Temperatures approaching 90 degrees outside, and surely well over 110 degress inside with the windows up! Even if water doesn’t pour into the passenger area, it is evaporating up and into the vehicle, saturating the every inch of the interior. This sounds like a major health risk to me. Does anyone have any information? What is in the water? E-coli and other harmful bacteria? That river is known to contain sewage. Even if a claims adjuster says the interior can be cleaned, will the business cleaning the vehicle provide a written gaurantee that all potentially harmful bacteria has been elimated and there is no health risk to the driver and passengers?
You must like hearing yourself talk, huh?
Environmental issues…such as half the cars sitting there are old and leak oil and gas on a regular basis? That oil and gas is now heading downstream…etc.
That would be environmental. What you discuss would be a health hazard, not necessarily environmental. after more than a week of those cars sitting in 90-deg weather in what is already a dirty river – I wouldn’t set foot in one of them.
First of all im not mad B93, clear channel, but i am mad about how things are haddled and are going to be. We have lives and right now me and my friend are missing work until they get our cars out. i live on the other side of the state i mean come on.WTF. I had no clue that i was going to park in a flood zone. B93 had no clue that Lansing or who ever was going to let the water go, so who fault is it? Its those retards that let the water go knowing that it was going to effect tons of other people other than themselves. All i have to say is what selfish basterds.
I will be there next year! I dont care where i park, because im coming ready. i will be comfortable knowing that my silverado will get me out.
B93 you better hope you have some awesome people showing up to do your part. to make your listeners happy. without us you have nothing.
The right answer to that is Consumers Energy let that water go after notifing Ionia City Officals. Then the communication stopped. As far as B-93 knew was they would be opening the dam on Monday. Things changed with mother nature and Federal Regulations say they must open the dam when water gets to high. So they called ahead and (my opinion) is that ICO’s figured that it would cause mass confusion to have made an anouncement. So just see what comes of it and deal with it. The river rose and they thought they had escaped with no major issues and in the meantime the water rose even more. I truely believe NO ONE wanted this to happen and everyone avoided major injuries.
So those of you whom think sueing will help it won’t. You will be taking away from an aready stuggling economy. Jobs are hard to find and if everyone sues then we may lose our station, fair, even lots more jobs in this area.
So think about and make your moves wisely. And lastly try to have a good day!
Bill ……….I just read the Press Release the Webber Dam sent out back in May 2004………Heavens to Betsey!! THAT was the flood of all floods……..the 22 years I have lived on the Grand….that was the one and only time my house was flooded……Major disaster………
These poor folks losing their cars now and all that they have been through………maybe the buck stops with Consumers Energy……
Seems to me after finding out 5 years after the fact they indeed were the reason my house flooded; its no wonder the B-93 crew are victims of such Unforeseen dire circumstances………………
Believe me, I am not a fan of Consumers but they stated they have to follow federal guidelines on releasing water. Imagine the floding if they held back the water for a party down stream and the dam breaks. One storm a few years ago did break about 5 dams in Michigan. It does happen.
I don’t care for country music, and have never gone to this annual Birthday Bash. However, B-93 COULD HAVE POSTPONED or cancelled the event, but they chose not to. I have no idea what is going to happen to all these ruined cars, it’s similar to hurricane Katrina and all the ruined cars from that. Eventually they wind up back on the market, but I sure would not buy one even if it was fixed up.
I don’t blame people for taking legal action either. I sure hope all of you whose cars were ruined, are able to get some kind of compensation for this mess.
anyone know where Jennifer K has been? Thats a name I have not seen in forever.
Webber damn: http://www.brainygeography.com/features/MI.dam/weberdam.html
This is interesting to me. On the official B-93 web site, they’ve posted a frequently asked questions page. In response to questions about wether or not there will be a Bash next year, part of the reply states, and I quote, “We are just as anxious and impatient with the Grand River as you are. The river is just really taking its time about lowering those water levels.” PLEASE!!! How stupid do they think people are? They’re directing human emotions toward an inanimate object! They have the audacity to place blame on the river!!! This is clearly a legal defensive posture intended to shift blame. Maybe they can ask the tooth fairy to persuade the river to be more cooperative.
Someone needs to be held responsible for this mess!! We were instructed to park there and could not enter without a parking permit and we went to the car the first announcement I heard!!! Now my car sits in who knows how much water, and needs to be towed home, and when we can get in there and retreive our car it has to be dried out and drained before we can even start it to see if it is still good. Who’s gonna compensate that and my headache to borrow a car to go to school and every other place I have to go??!!!
who is gonna bail out anyone who suffers from mother nature. Would you have been happy if you got to the concert and found out it was cancelled due to “possible” flooding and then it didn’t flood. You would have been upset then too. The decisions that were mad were to try and allow people to have a good time and be safe. Why does evertyone have to be sue happy and find someone to blame???? Get real
Suing someone to compensate for damaged goods is not being “sue happy”, being “sue happy” is suing for hurt feelings or suing every stupid thing. Someone’s vehicle is not a stupid thing. Yes, people did know that it rained the night before, but they trusted B93 and Ionia enough that when they saw a puddle of water they thought “if there was even a chance it was going to flood they would’ve told us”. I believe there was a certain amount of trust that was broken.
do you think B93 and Ionia asked for this? I am sure it was their plot to bring as many people in the south lot as possible cause it might flood. Get real, if they truly thought flooding would happen do you think they would say, “well oh well we don’t care what happens to peoples stuff and they wouldn’t blame us anyway?” No one would intentionaly put themselves in this situation and just wait and sit back to see how it unfolds and how much it will effect them.
the show should’ve been cancelled at 5:30 a.m. as the information was provided to the city and b93 officials. there stance was “we’re keeping an eye on the water levels”. it sounds like those 15 dollar parking fee’s and as many beer ticket sales were much more important at the time.b93 seems to alreasdy be admitting to negligence. that big ole’ court house in ionia will soon clarify the situation.!!!good day
B93 is not admiiting to full fault, they are trying to make the best of a bad situation and help out the listerner family.
Insurance is, that’s why you have it, if you don’t that was your decision, not B-93
The insurance companies will pay claims. They will investigate. If they believe they can prove negligence in a court of law, they will attempt to subrogate their losses against the defendant or defendants (possibly B-93, Clear Radio, the city of Ionia, and anyone else involved in organizing the event). If they prove negligence, I can guarantee you that anyone without insurance will have an actionable claim, and more than likely will recover their damages. It’s not a question of whether or not they did this intentionally, it’s a question of what they knew, when they knew it, and what they did with the information they had. No one, including B-93, is absolved of guilt because they had good intentions. In the eyes of the law, negligence is negligence.
we asked the parking people if it was gonna flood any more then it was and they told us it was not gonna rise any more and i said well can we park on higher grounds and they told us it was good well we were the first oned in row 4 and the trailblazer had 3″ in it when my bro went to move it at 3pm….
Sometimes the river giveth and sometimes the river taketh. This time see took.
She took. Got going too fast there. Bummer of a deal all the way around. It’ll be of high interest to see how this all works out. The best to all of you.
My husband was told by our insurance company that because if Katrina floods the rules with insurance companies has changed. If ANY water gets into the car it will be a total loss. The laws in Michigan have changed regarding water damage to cars.
You may want to investigate this matter with you agent.
this was an act of mother nature. No one thought it would end like this. I have lived in Ionia all my life and have never seen flooding in June. If the concert would have been canceled and the grounds did not flood people would have been mad. This was a lose lose situation. Yes, this is terrible but you can not control the river and everyone acted the best way they could with the information they had at the time. We are not god or magical.
Tanya,
If you have evidence that will prove “everyone acted the best way they could with the information they had at the time”, you need to come forward with it. The defense attorneys will want to talk with you. Again, PROOF is not just an opinion. Yes, rain is an act of God. So is lightning. If lightning stikes a school your children attend and starts a small fire, but the school isn’t evacuated and people aren’t warned because officials think they have it under control and that it won’t spread, or they think they’ll be able to stop it before anyone is hurt, only to realize too late that is not the case and ultimatley someone is hurt, or worse a life or lives are lost (it is not too far fetched to think that someone could have been seriously injured in the flooding, or worse…thank God there were only about a dozen minor injuries), wouldn’t you want answers? I think that’s all people want. PROOF that, in your words, “everyone acted the best way they could with the information they had at the time.” PLEASE come forward with your PROOF, not specualtion.
well since you are certain you know what happened, where is your proof. Did you hear the phone conversations, were you involved in trying to build a road to get the cars out? Seriously, I would not talk to any attorney because i do not believe in people sueing over this. That is like sueing over Hurrican Katrina..please
Tanya,
PLEASE PAY ATTENTION! I never said, “everyone did the best they could with the information they had at the time”, you did. I’m simply asking what proof do you have to show your statement is true? I would urge anyone with proof that they did not do the best they could to do the same…come forward with the PROOF! I never said that they didn’t. I never blamed anyone. If you read everything I’ve written, carefully, you’ll see that I’ve chosen to reserve judgement until the evidence shows someone, if anyone, is at fault. Your Hurricane Katrina reference is ironic. Let me refresh your memory. The state and federal government took a lot of heat for not ordering an evacuation sooner than they did. The head of FEMA LOST HIS JOB because they botched the whole thing! Lawsuits weren’t necessary because it was crystal clear to everyone, including the administration that their ineptitude cost thousands of lives, so they came forward with billions in aid without a congressional investigation. They knew the outcome would have lead to a hearing. They answered the same questions then that need to be answered now. What did they know, when did they know it, and what did they do with the information they had? You say you wouldn’t sue. It’s easy for someone who didn’t suffer any damages to make a statement like that. Were you there? Is your vehicle still there? Did you miss work because you had no way to get there? I don’t think so. As for your last statement about the fact that officials KNEW the river had not crested as they continued to line up vehicles in the south lot, you might be making a case against organizers without realizing it. If that is true, and it is true that they had other information that could have helped avoid this mess but didn’t act on it in a responsible way, my guess is negligence won’t be hard to prove in court. And you can bet the insurance companies will be looking to subrogate their losses against anyone found to be negligent. If they determine the drivers of each vehicle were negligent, they’ll simply deny the claim. B-93 has already stated that their insurance carrier will meet with the uninsured on a case by case basis. Why do you think they’re doing this? Because their attorneys have advised them that if this does go to trial, chances are they will be held liable, and it is far less expensive to settle than try all of these cases in court. I truly am neutral. I am not taking one side or the other. I’d just like to see the truth come out, and the fair and right thing done.
OMG,thats got to be the longest run-on sentence in the history of the world
Just the Facts, thank you for a very well written and comprehensive detail of the events that took place. Thank you for expressing my views. I spoke to my Adjuster yesterday (Pioneer State Mutual), it will be their policy to total any and all vehicles that had ANY water surround or approach the vehicles. I was told, “consider it a loss.” I only have ACV coverage (Actual Cost Value) on my van, it was to be paid off in three weeks. So now, I’m out my deductible, the remaining balance of the loan and I get to walk into a dealership in the next two weeks and say, what to do you have for $8,000. The heart breaking thing is we babied our van, I got it with 100 miles on it in 2003. It had regular oil changes, I just put brand new tires on it a month ago and a full tank of gas (which is probably seeping into the River, because gas becomes a vapor). I’m lucky to have full coverage but I’m not being put back “whole” due to everyone getting their cut before I do. Reality is we all do not have vehicles today, we will not have vehicles for five to seven days more and then (those lucky to have insurance) will get a check and oh, don’t forget your $15 from B93. Yes, things happen but you try sitting home and being absolutely helpless and at the mercy of someone else and getting ZERO information. Good luck everyone, see you in Ionia next week.
is it full coverage or ACV, you seem to have both
We was carpin at the river on Bash-day, an we seen Grady’s boat come a puttn by from up stream just after sun up. He sez Hey boys, ye best be steppin back a piece. The rivers makin big up yonder. An wez sez Mmmmm hmmmm we can see that. Rekon well rest back for a spell. An then after a whil we seen the cars a comn all lined up like ants waitin to get to the sugar cube. Mmmmm hmmm. Laws yes! We sukt our barly-pops down and watcht while they was send people all which ways toward the river to park. They was a floppn and a carryin on to git to the big meetn place, and haf of em looked like they aint got a lick uh sense. But the other uns, the ones what had the tall rides, they were the sly folk! Mmmmm hmmmm! They aint had the fear! An we winked at each other there on the bank like-wise while we drank our relaxitives.
Hey Carl,
Smoke another one!!! Are you an Iona resident?
I reckon I don’t smoke much account of a feller named Smiley that I chum with. Me, Smiley, and Bunny my lady frend, hit hard times a while back and we lived in the woods a spell by the river. Well ol Smiley one night was goin on about bugs and such and how they made life horrible so he got him some bug spray and put it on kinda thick specialy on his face mmmmmm hmmmmm. Smiley put extra on his face caus that is where skeeters lit the most. What happened was Smiley went to light a cigaret a short while later and the bug spray round his mouth went to flame and peeled his lips back for good! Thats why hes called Smiley. He looks good to trick or treat for the most part. I come to Ionya some time back throug the lock up. The state was my custoadien for a time for some bad I dun back when. When they let me out they dropped me in a place and I asked a lady what was pasn by where it was I came to be and she said I own ya. I got real concerned that she might be takin me back to the cell seeins how I just got out but when it cleared on me I had a good laugh and been here since. As for my lady frend Bunny, I don’t see here much no more. She only had her two front teeth left wen I came to know her and what her real name was I coodnt say. But bunny was always for telln scary stories by the fire and was hot with vampirs and such. She joined some people that told her they was vampirs and they told her how they went at local livestok at night for blood. Bunny only had the two teeth left, and she tolt me that after tryn to do what they lernt her, her teeth got broke out when a cow kickkd her. After that they kikked her outa cause alls she could do was gum things. Now we laugh and call her Gummy Bunny but she dont like it much.
have another already!
Why oh why? I live on a river about 20 miles south of Ionia. When the good god’s rain on us and release 3″ or more in a 24hr period we have to pull our dock and take the boat out. I also travel through Ionia often. The same thing happens at the fairgrounds. So my question is couldn’t the government controling the show or city moved the parking to the airport. They have plenty of area to park in. I realize that the transporting would be an issue especially on such short notice. But I am sure the school buses could have been a possibility. I really believe that the government official’s of Ionia had to know what was coming they live in that town and see it all the time. Like I said I drive through often and I could have called it and I am sure that plenty of other people that live or travel through Ionia could have to. Simple solution would have been the airport. I guess it is to late know. Sorry to all that have to deal with thise. My heart goes out to you and yours!
Awesome idea Bill. You want to organize it and help me get some money to replace my car rotting out there? I would be grateful.
I’m sorry for the people out for a good time that can’t afford the $100 dollar tickets to the big concerts. They had an opportunity and siezed the moment. A lot of them are unemployed leaving full coverage insurance out of the question. Are they going to be charged for towing to the school and how do they get their non running cars home from there? How long do they have to remove them from the school? Will they be fined for abandonment if they don’t come up with the money for removal? Is this going to turn into a money maker for the city?
B-93 is covering the towing to the school. On one of 5 days(sunday-thursday) you will recieve a call, saying the next day you should report to the school.You should have it towed to a garage, do not start your car as the oil and such needs to drained and replaced, or you will blow your engine. I know sounds expensive, but it will be cheaper than replacing a motor. See you there.
You parked in a grassy lot (no drains, no concrete…) a few feet from a major river when we had a FLOOD WARNING for most of lower Michigan in place since the previous night? And you parked there because SOMEONE TOLD YOU TO? Duh.
I was sitting at 84th and K’zoo a few weeks ago at a 4-way stop when some young kid “adjusting his radio” plowed into my car while doing at least 40 mph. If I hadn’t had full coverage on a nearly 10-yr old car (which I did, thank God, because I DEPEND on my car and can’t live without it) I’d be SOL too. Instead I got a nice fat check from my insurance within 2 days…
Either way, I sure don’t blame anybody else for what happened, other than myself for not watching my rear-view a little more closely. The kid was stupid – hopefully he’ll learn a lesson from it when his rates are jacked up. The world is FULL of stupid people, get over it.
BTW, Carl – you are funny!
I try to see things differnt than most I reckon. Life puts its smelly foot on our throats at times and makes us a whole lot of uncumfterble. it brings the shiny sides and the rough sides outn peopl makin the character we are plain as day. Some hav the sock lint arouwn their neck for a long time after werds. Point is whether everybody takes blame or no body does it still can make it a bit hard to breethe for a while. Like the time Grady hitched me to a tree filled with skwirls and stuk a burlap sack over my hed filled with acorns. He sed that I was nuts anyway and wanted to see if the skwirls would eat me after they chewd through my sak.
MG,
We agree on one thing. Carl IS funny. You obviously do not have all of the facts. B-93 has stated that their insurance carrier will look at claims on a case by case basis. Why do you think they’re doing this. It’s because their attorneys have advised them that if this goes to court, they will probably be found negligent. It is cheaper for them to settle on a case by case basis than to go to trial. Plain and simple. Personally, I won’t place blame until there is proof of negligence. However, people who parked in the south lot did NOT have a choice. Anyone who tried to drive to the main entrance were told by police to turn around and go back to the parking area designated for traffic coming in from that direction (the south lot). This is not the same as someone who drives their car onto a lake in the winter time and has it fall through the ice. If they do, they are negligent. When B-93 charged a parking fee, and directed people to the only area they were allowed to park in, they have an obligation to assure that that area is “reasonably safe”. Should they be held responsible for fender benders or theft…no. If they were negligent because they knew the water was rising and didn’t do anything about it much sooner than they did
…then they should be held responsible. If the courts decide that the only negligence was on the part of the people who parked there, so be it. But that is not going to happen. Watch and see how this plays out. By the way, I’m glad you were not injured in the accident, and you still have a means of transportation. It would be devastating to depend on your vehicle to feed your family, and have that taken away.
Doesn’t it feel great to pass the blame onto someone else for your own stupidity? Fans were warned the river was rising and vehicles in the South Lot needed to be moved, re-admittance into the concert should not even be an issue when your vehicle is in danger. B-93 should have just canceled the concert a few hours earlier to force these idiots out to move their cars, because as long as there is a free concert going on they are too ignorant to do it their selves. If it were my insurance company I would do everything in my power not to pay for damages to any flood vehicle at this event, because they were warned and neglected to act. This would be Insurance Fraud, plain and simple. It’s not right that the rest of us whom pay for insurance should pay for others lack of common sense. Sorry, my heart goes out to victims of real flood situations but not to anyone that put music before their own transportation.
They closed the entrance just after 11:30 because the water was rising. People entering didn’t know if the the water was rising or falling. B-93 thought it was falling because they thought the river had already crested. By 12:00, everyone was trapped. There was now way out. They made the FIRST announcement advising people to check their cars at 3:00. You claim that people were warned and neglected to act. Where are you getting your information from? Were you there? That is not true. If it were true, the insurance companies would be DENYING claims. The insurance industry is one of the most powerful in the United States. Their experts are already conducting their own investigations. Clearly, they have already determined that the drivers of those vehicles are not at fault. If you have evidence that will prove otherwise (your uninformed opinion is not evidence or proof), you need to come forward with it. I’m sure the litigators would love to put you on the stand to hear your testimony. If you go through and read all of the replies you’ll be more informed. When you comment without doing that, you’re showing your own ignorance. If you want to make a valid point, why would you choose to weaken your argument with name calling, and opinions based on heresay and misinformation? If you can’t think on a higher level than what you are right now, don’t embarrass yourself by making more comments.
just the facts: get your facts straight they knew the river had not crested, according to weather it was not to crest till monday which left time for the concert.
just the facts—– you are right. No one told us to get out off the south parking lot till 3pm and by then it was too late to leave. water was too high. We parked where we were instructed. you couldn’t turn around if you wanted to it ws bumper to bumper traffic. b93 was broadcasting over the radio for people coming to use the south parking lot. They were also bringing in gravel trucks while telling us to use the south lot and parking us their. B93 is guilty of neglience at the very least. Look up the definition in the dictionary. The car owners have the legal right to go after Gallagher – Bassett (birthday bash event insurance company). This is why B93 paid the policy to them. Ionia wouldn’t allow the use of their property without it. One lawsuit could bankrupt the city or B93.
B-93 PEOPLE STAY OUT OF KENT COUNTY U GUYS ARE BAD LUCK!!!!!!!WATER 4 BRAINS!!!
I went to the bash on saturday, i got there at about 20 mins after 10am. i took my moms car to save on gas money. i own a 4 wheel drive that is lifted 7 inches and i run 35 inch tires on it, my bad for taken her car, but that is the only thing that im guilty of. lucky her insurance will take care of it and she might get a brand new ride out of the deal. she isnt mad at me so im good or in ok shape. the cop the ONE and ONLY cop that was close to the exit the only exit in the entire south lot, told me i could not leave the car unattented. the car last i seen from photos is on dry land, but i left my wallet, my keys, my phone everything in the car. because the cop told us after we went to the flower building to come back to are cars. so why ruin good stuff if it is already on dry land. needless to say, when i got to the flower building i couldnt go back. wish i would of knew that 500 dollars ago. not only was most of my weeks pay in that wallet, so was my license and dot phyical card and every form of id i have. the water was waist deep on me (or should i say waste) and im 6 foot tall. i helped as many people as i could, to get cars to dry land. i had to replace my license my dot card at my own expense, the company phone everything. everyone had a bad experience here, most were ok thank god. but people cant say it was the people that parked in the lots fault. im from kalamazoo, are river dont flood the banks after every rain. if it rained for 5 days or even 2 straight, i might of not went but it is what it is, dont call us retards or hillbillys because we went to a free concert. i own a home, a very large home, 2 trucks, a street bike, and a new ford mustang. call me someone that likes country music and wanted to have a little fun after working 50 hours a week. we arnt white trash we were put in harms way for no good reason. call us upset angry heartbroken and betrayed thats what u can call us. and for the mom of 6 im glad your so smart, honestly. and for the guy that said everyone that went drove a piece of shit, i bet most of them got it with honest hard work, sweat and tears. we arent lawyers, doctors, and all that. but we all stuck together that day out there in a flooded parking lot, helped each other the best we could. and we country folks always will. when your big city burns down and u cant hunt your own food, and provide for your family. dont ask me to eat the deer i killed or the fish i caught, dont ask me to keep u warm. we country folks that listen to country music and dont dress how u want us to dress, we will be ok. good luck when that day comes, the economy is crashing more everyday. but we are coming threw it, us country folks and we always will. so dont get upset when we sue someone for the only time in are life. i have read every blog on this page and got upset laughed then said i gotta write, i just have to. what happened was bad, not good,and not are fault. we arent guilty of shit except of having fun, i tryed to leave at 1 before everyone was told, i couldnt so i found high ground and waited it out. im still waiting. i bet i wont take that 15 dollars back so they can get off the hook, i wont take anything from them i want nothing but a “im sorry”. and if u cant afford a new car sue them whoever that is when they decide who is at fault. dont sit back and take the big bag of crap that was thrown at u almost literally, because the river is a polluted mess, a no contact river, that i was forced and you that were honestly there were forced to enter. i know its long sorry but i had to speek my peace.
p.s If u were there my heart goes out to you and your family i know this week has brought me alot of stress. I know it has you to dont just give up keep pushing tell the right person or person’s responsible pay up. I lost all respect for b-93 not because the concert flooded but because when people that could make it out tried to leave the b-93 hummer tried to push them back i hope that guy that hit the hummer dont get a ticket all he was doing was trying to do what they told us all to do leave he could we couldnt so he did.
Hello Everyone,
This is all sad what has happened here. I believe I heard 1000 cars in the south lot, most lost to owners – maybe all lost, only time will tell [ and yes, one is mine].
I do not live in Ionia County.. but I am a resident of the State of Michigan. First time ever at the b93 bash.
This is perhaps – one of the worst thing that has happened to people in this state in a while.. I hope everyone – pays attention to certain aspects from it. One, being it involved human life’s.. I believe it’s time to take a step back and think about the fact that no life was lost.. Yes, personal property was lost. Also , while your reflecting.. think about this.. if it had been a major thing such as 9-11.in your own county.. would we be anymore prepared – would the county your in be able to handle this or any type of emergency or problem, of this size or larger .. I am sure the residents of Ionia thought theirs could.. but do they now ???
I believe I heard that our state- was all set for emergency problems.. reading what happened here, from different views of the people.. I, Question , did the authorities handle this flood like it should have been.
It seems to me that there was a total lack of communication going on.. People being sent back into a flooding area ??? I got to thinking that over, and wondered – how would anyone of us feel, had we lost a loved one that day or one life loss that day- because a cop or someone of authority there at the grounds, said they could not leave – go back , stay with their car. I asked myself again – who would send someone back into a flooding area ???? what if that water rushed in – go back wait with your car.. ??? ?? Just what were the Authorities thinking here ????????????? Certainly sending the people back into the flooding waters.. was not the correct way. But yet we went.. we sat hours- hot, wet , hungry, tired, thirsty.. from children to adults.. waiting.
( Authorities ie- cops /rescue/ city officials/ county officials , who ever ) Are they ..trained to help keep danger at bay.. ?
the test – rain , sent by mother nature, yes Webber Dam was released, I guess I am saying- Did we pass the test – what if it had been a terrorist attack ??? What then.. send the people back into the bombing area ??
I hope all our personal county governments – pay attention and anyone involved in making ‘major’ plans- pays attention to what NOT to do. What happened at this nice event, held free for fun – was a perfect example NOT to follow.
To Ionia County /Fair and Residents [ All living with-in the county ].. that large of an area for parking .. and only 1 way out ???? Please get that changed, make more then 1 exit out. That may cost $$.. but it may have helped here ..Take a look see how many exits are in a area ..
To all Michigan Residents- get involved with things in your county. Check see if something is wrong – work on making it a safe/better place for all who come… visitors or residence .
To my County officials.. PLEASE Don’t allow this kind of out of control- “Cluster Fudge ” to happen in the county I live in. Please Step up Plans,Review — for emergencies such as this..Hospital’s have code blue.. Make a PLAN, for emergencies.. think things out.. check out the area’s involved, ” Oh, look we have 2 house doors.. and our house is so big.. lets put in more doors ” and yes, it cost $$.. but look at what this will cost by the time it is said and done.. — ” Think about ‘the 4th of July is coming what if this or that happens’ make sure there is a workable plan A.. plan B. …help keep us safe, when we can’t control what’s happening around us as we enjoy life here in Michigan , regardless if its a free event or a paid event . But, what ever you do- do not stop doing things for fear of lawsuits. Don’t cancel the area events !
Reguards- from The New River Boat Impala – got my fishing pole out, waiting for Bones to bring me a hook, and sinker- ain’t touching no worm though.
Some times you just have to laugh, or you go nutty- like ole Carl in the tree !
Has anyone without comprehensive coverage picked up their vehicle yet, just curious if ClearChannel is offering any compensation at all? For a radio station that presents itself as a decent, family oriented and compassionate company you would think they would do something. I’m finding it very hard to listen to them anymore. The legalities of this whole thing make everything they say seem so insincere. I hope they choose to do the right thing, if they don’t it will change everything about the station. I know I won’t listen anymore. How about a roof sit for us Neal?
Daughter seen her car yesterday. Water damage appeared to be minimal. However, the treatment it received going from the parking area to the ’staging area’ was not. Good grief….who damages the whole front bumper just towing???
What negligence. Disgusting.
i remember when we were smart and parked on the north side of the river,skiping the gay a$$ birdge
ok i know its been awhile since the birthday bash flood.. but im still seein and hearin people bitch.. im 16 n i was in the south lot by myself!! i had no one i knew by me.. was i scared.. no because im mature n i listned to public saftey.. why you people are complainging about losing a vehicle idk.. idk bout u but i care more bout my life, that cant be replaced, then my truck. i left the concert at 2pm n didnt git out till 12:56 where i had to walk through water that was up to my chest in the pitch black night.
now i know i dont understand what its like to lose a vehicle.. but that because im mature n smart n i know how to drive a truck n where to park it.. stop complaining bout losin ur vehicle n quit bitchin bout how b93 knew it was gonna happen.. least ur still alive and there was no serious injurys.