A Macomb County business remains closed today as the result of massive flooding it took on during the severe thunderstorms that rumbled through southeast Michigan in the past two months.
Emmett’s Energy, which specializes in custom-built fireplaces in Bruce Township, has been closed since the Aug. 24 storms that spawned seven tornadoes that killed five people.
Owner Collin Emmett said the flood in his two-story store on Van Dyke and 33 Mile roads followed a similar storm on July 28. Between the two weather events, the store incurred hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages and was forced the layoff of about 10 employees.
“We’ve in front of a hill, where Orchard Hills Park is located and let me tell you, the flow was gushing like the Clinton River down over the park and onto our business,” Emmett said.
He said the water came in through a rear entrance and truckwell of the business, leaving behind water, silt, and gravel. On two separate occasions he had to contract with Warren-based Centurion Carpet Cleaning and Adams Restoration in Fraser, which were expected to still be working on cleanup operations until Tuesday.
According to the company, a plugged ditch on 33 Mile and backflow off the hill diverted floodwater to the rear parking lot into the back of the store. Sump pumps and drains couldn’t keep up with the water.
The water caused damage to $15,000 worth of computers, furniture, phones, carpeting and merchandise, according to Emmett’s Energy.
Emmett blames the actions or inactions of Bruce Township and the Macomb County Road Commission for the flooding to his 30,000-square-foot warehouse and showroom.
“We’ve had this dispute with the township supervisor,” he said. “The first storm plugged the drains and all the debris come down over the park and filled us with gravel and mud and silt. Then the second storm hit. The municipalities knew about it and did nothing.”
Bruce Township Supervisor Mike Fillbrook said that’s not accurate.
Fillbrook said there’s an “obvious issue” with the drainage.
He said Emmett was told as far back as two years ago that when his parking lot was filling with water, that the storm sewers needed to be cleaned out. The shop is in a homeowners owner association (HOA) along with other businesses and they took no steps to remove debris from the sewers.
“The HOA owners says it’s our fault, but the township only maintains sanitary sewers, not storm sewers. It’s like cleaning out the gutters on your home — if you don’t do it, you’ll get water when it rains. Same thing here,” Fillbrook said.
The HOA’s other property owners have been pushing Emmett to take care of that and other issues, according to Fillbrook.
“The bottom line is the HOA has done zero to no maintenance to the property in the last two years. Collin denies everything. I feel for him, I’d like to help him out,” he said.
The Macomb County Department of Roads says it appears no permits were submitted by the property owner when previous work was completed on the parking lot by the owner. Officials are still looking into the matter.
Brandon Lewis, Macomb County’s emergency manager, said disaster declaration recently announced by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will be of no help here in Bruce Township. The declarations only applied to Monroe and Wayne counties and also limited damage to public agencies and infrastructure.
“There was no disaster relief targeting residences and businesses,” he said.
Still, Emmett insists the township is to blame. He said he doesn’t own the drains and therefore isn’t responsible for their maintenance.
“It’s not right, it’s their fault,” Emmett said, adding he doesn’t carry flood insurance. “We need immediate action from the Department of Roads and Bruce Township.”
