(WWJ) — While Metro Detroit continues to clean up after strong storms caused damage across the area Tuesday evening, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office says it was a stormy night that “threatened disaster” but “thankfully” didn’t deliver.
Members of the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team (SSRT) had “every indication it was going to be a long and challenging night filled with the potential for devastating news,” as there were nearly 1,500 calls to the operations center, officials said Wednesday.
Many of those calls involved incidents on various Oakland County lakes. Given there have already been 11 drownings on the county’s lakes this year — compared to just three all of last year and four the year prior — officials said the fears of the SSRT were “understandable, considering their personal experience.”
Tuesday’s fast-moving severe storm — which left hundreds of thousands without power — hit Oakland County just before 5:30 p.m., brining high winds, lightning and heavy rain. The sheriff’s office said it apparently caught many boaters by surprise.
The sheriff’s office on Wednesday detailed a list of six emergency calls on four different lakes, all of which came within 90 minutes and required an immediate response. Sheriff Mike Bouchard called it “unprecedented.”
“The night had a violent storm that had the potential of inflicting serious injuries or death in addition to property damage,” Bouchard said, per a press release. “From our call takers to the first responders, our team handled, seamlessly, the massive number of calls for service in amazing fashion.”
The SSRT got assistance from the Southeast Michigan Dive Group strike teams from the Lapeer County Sheriff’s Office, Livingston County Dive Team and the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office.
Officials said each incident was handled, using four rescue boats, as well as multiple divers and SONAR equipment.
“The outcomes could not have been better for the rescuers,” the sheriff’s office said of the following emergency calls:
5:27 p.m. — Walled Lake
As the storm first hit the area, police got reports of a capsized vessel, with the caller saying there were victims stranded in the water.
Outcome: The SSRT deployed a rescue boat and safely recovered 34-year-old Milan man and a 36-year-old Dundee man and towed their boats to a safe location.
5:29 p.m. — Walled Lake
The operations center got word of a second capsized vessel, with the caller reporting additional victims in the water.
Outcome: A 66-year-old man was rescued from the water and his boat was towed to the shore.
5:39 p.m. – White Lake Township, Tull Lake
About 12 minutes after the first call came in, the sheriff’s office got word of a possible drowning. The caller reported a boat was adrift, with life vests and personal items floating nearby.
Outcome: The SSRT responded and determined no one was in the water and the boat had gone adrift from a nearby dock.
6:08 p.m. – West Bloomfield Township, Walnut Lake
A woman told police she feared her 61-year-old husband was in the water.
Outcome: West Bloomfield Township police and fire were on the scene and reported the near drowning, but later advised SSRT it was not needed. The SSRT investigated and determined the 61-year-old male was never in the water.
6:22 p.m. – Cass Lake
The sheriff’s office got a report of a “boating accident” in which a rowboat capsized. The caller reported there were personal items seen floating nearby.
Outcome: SSRT determined no one was in the water and all occupants were accounted for. The boat was towed to shore.
6:59 p.m. – Walled Lake
Lastly, authorities got a report of a Missing kayaker who was on the lake and did not return.
Outcome: SSRT investigated and determined the kayaker, a 61-year-old Novi woman, was unaccounted for. A short time later she returned to the shore and told searchers she took shelter underneath a dock on the lake.
Bouchard said the results could not have been better for the team and the boaters.
“I am extremely proud of our team and our partners’ efforts that I believe prevented injury or death in the midst of this storm,” Bouchard said.
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