Ann Arbor City Council ends state of emergency for April 15 tornado. Here’s where recovery efforts stand
The Ann Arbor City Council on Monday, July 6, ended the local state of emergency that Mayor Christopher Taylor declared on Wednesday, April 15, after an EF-1 tornado hit the city at about 1:45 a.m. that day. It was the first tornado to hit Ann Arbor since April 3, 1988. No one was injured.
The city’s emergency response and short-term recovery efforts have concluded, and a declared local state of emergency is no longer necessary to manage the long-term recovery. A local emergency declaration simplifies contracting and spending processes and is the starting point for asking the state and federal governments for financial assistance.
The city continues to address the damage to Veterans Memorial Park and Fire Station 3 through insurance claims.
“City staff did exceptional work to protect public safety, clear debris, assess damage, and keep Ann Arbor moving,” said Mayor Christopher Taylor. “We approached this response with care and discipline, using emergency authorities where necessary while working to minimize disruption and limit the financial impact on residents. Thanks to the professionalism and dedication of city employees, Ann Arbor is now able to move from emergency response into long-term recovery.”
City staff managed tornado recovery while providing regular services
In the month following the tornado, City of Ann Arbor employees logged roughly 4,100 hours of work specific to tornado recovery. This time was coded by employees in case a reimbursement opportunity arose via the state or federal governments. Wages and benefits for city staff allocated to tornado recovery was about $215,000. The city spent more than $118,000 on invoices specific to the tornado.
Ann Arbor’s Emergency Operations Center was activated on April 15 at 3 a.m. and closed April 24. During that time, leaders from across city departments convened 13 times to coordinate recovery efforts, which initially focused on ensuring residents’ safety and reopening blocked roads.
In those Emergency Operations Center gatherings, an emergency debris removal operation was planned to help residents dispose of storm debris. In all, the city removed 259 tons of vegetative debris. Public Works crews were able to pick up most debris from residents on Monday, April 20, by prioritizing neighborhoods within the tornado’s path and completing their initial pickup in an extended, 12-hour shift.
The Emergency Operations Center meetings also led to the development of a storm damage assessment operation. This operation helped the city make the case for financial support from the state and federal governments by documenting the extent the tornado’s destruction. Over two days, about 40 city employees, many from Building, Rental and Inspection Services and the Office of Sustainability and Innovations, connected with hundreds of residents by going door to door. They found 252 structures in the city had been impacted by the storm, including 14 that sustained major damage.
“Our successful response to the April 15 tornado is the result of our everyday dedication to emergency preparedness,” said Sydney Parmenter, Ann Arbor’s emergency manager. “We are regularly planning, training, and completing practice exercises for emergencies just like this one. Severe weather can be difficult to plan for, even with the best tools in place. There’s no way of knowing when and where it may strike. We are grateful for the partnership we have with the National Weather Service, which issued timely warnings. We also want to thank our community for taking action and sheltering for severe weather that came through in the middle of the night.”
In addition, Ann Arbor firefighters responded to more than 150 tornado-related calls for service and police responded to more than 50. City leaders worked closely with the National Weather Service, DTE, Ann Arbor Public Schools and the University of Michigan in the days following to the tornado.
Although recovery efforts demanded significant time and energy from city staff, regular city services, including solid waste pickup, were uninterrupted.
“Responding to this tornado required a coordinated, citywide effort, and our employees met the moment while continuing to deliver the day-to-day services our residents depend on,” said City Administrator Milton Dohoney Jr. “From public works and public safety to inspections, parks, finance, communications and emergency management, staff worked with urgency, professionalism and care. Their efforts helped stabilize the community, reduce disruption for residents and position the city to manage recovery costs responsibly.”
Millions in damage to Veterans Memorial Park, Fire Station 3
While the City of Ann Arbor is still evaluating the full financial impact of the April 15 tornado to city facilities and property, based on currently available information, preliminary insured property damage is estimated in the range of approximately $2.5 million to $3 million, primarily related to Veterans Memorial Park/Ice Arena and Fire Station 3. This estimate is subject to change as engineering reviews, contractor estimates, business interruption analysis, and the insurance adjustment process continue.
Veterans Memorial Park was the hardest-hit city property. A wall of the ice rink collapsed and there was damage to ball field fences and lighting as well as the pool. The pool has reopened and a temporary wall has been constructed on the ice rink, but the rink will not be ready for the 2026-27 skating season. Staff continue to work with contractors to get the ball field fences repaired and safe for games, but lighting of the fields will not be available in the 2026 season.
Fire Station 3, which is adjacent to Veterans Memorial Park off Jackson Avenue, sustained roof damage. The facility remains safe for use by the Fire Department. Hubbell, Roth & Clark, Inc. is currently drafting a scope of work for repairs, with completion anticipated this calendar year.
Disaster assistance and recovery costs
On July 2, the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that it was making federal disaster assistance available for Ann Arbor residents in connection with the April 15 tornado. This declaration flowed from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s declaration of a state of emergency for Ann Arbor and other Michigan communities impacted this spring by severe weather, including flooding.
Individuals who suffered losses caused by the tornado may be eligible for assistance from FEMA. Individuals should first file claims with their insurance providers and then apply for assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 1-800-621-3362 or by using the FEMA App. More information about how to apply for assistance is available at FEMA.gov.
The City of Ann Arbor is not expected to receive state or federal financial assistance to support tornado recovery efforts. The city’s expenses did not meet FEMA’s eligible costs threshold for Washtenaw County of $1.8 million.
The city’s eligible costs for federal reimbursement were roughly $600,000: $100,000 for the insurance deductible for Veterans Memorial Park, $100,000 for the insurance deductible for Fire Station 3, about $200,000 for labor costs associated with debris clean up and emergency services, and about $200,000 for damage and clean up at Fairview Cemetery, the Water Treatment Plant, and in Parks & Recreation facilities.
How Ann Arborites should prepare for severe weather
The City of Ann Arbor encourages community members to take steps now to prepare for future emergencies. While it is not possible to know when the next major weather-related incident may occur, residents can reduce risk and improve safety by being weather ready.
Community members are encouraged to monitor weather forecasts, especially when planning to spend time outdoors. Residents should also know the different ways they can receive emergency alerts by visiting a2gov.org/alerts.
All alerts should be taken seriously. When a tornado warning is issued, seek shelter immediately in a safe location.
Residents are also encouraged to develop a family or household emergency plan and prepare an emergency kit. Guidance is available at ready.gov. Plans and kits should be tailored to meet individual household needs, including access to important medical devices, medications and supplies for pets.
Finally, residents are encouraged to get to know their neighbors and talk about how they may be able to support one another during an emergency.
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Media Contact:
Steve Kilar, Communications Director, skilar@a2gov.org