SHERWOOD TOWNSHIP, MI (WTVB) – Five weeks after a powerful EF-3 tornado devastated the Union Lake area March 6, residents are facing steep regulatory and logistical hurdles that threaten to stall the long path to recovery.
Branch County emergency officials estimate that roughly 70 homes were damaged or destroyed, with the hardest-hit neighborhoods near Prairie Rose Lane and Tuttle Road left in ruins.
While a massive community volunteer effort has helped clear surface debris, the transition from cleanup to construction is proving complex as families navigate a maze of well and septic requirements, which must be certified by the health department before any rebuilding permits can be issued.
To address the immediate housing crisis, the Sherwood Township Board late last month passed an emergency resolutions to cut through typical “red tape.” These measures allow displaced homeowners to live in RVs or campers on their own property while their homes are being rebuilt, provided they have an active building permit.
Additionally, the township has eased setback requirements for those rebuilding on existing foundations. However, even with these adjustments, many residents remain trapped in a holding pattern as they wait for insurance settlements and wait for contractors to become available.
Financial uncertainties also looms large as the community waits to see if it will qualify for federal disaster assistance.
Though Governor Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency immediately following the storm, local officials say that Sherwood Township previously failed to meet certain FEMA thresholds for help after past storms, leaving the burden of infrastructure repairs and property loss on its residents.
For now, the Union City High School continues to serve as a vital relief hub, but leaders warn that the outpouring of initial support must be sustained as the “scars” of the deadliest storm in 50 years will take a long time to heal.
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