READING, MI (WTVB) – One of the areas worst areas from Thursday morning’s severe thunderstorms was Kimball Camp YMCA Nature Center near Reading, with officials estimating nearly 1,000 trees were either sheared off or uprooted.
The Hilldale County facility was still holding its summer camp when the storm struck, but no campers or staff were injured.
Because of the destruction and loss of electricity, the camp has cancelled the rest of its summer programs.
A fundraising effort is underway to assist Kimball Camp in the tree removal and repair costs.https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10227236571881518&id=1275523159
Camp officials say their insurance will only pay for tree removal if the tree is actually on a structure.
I just viewed Kimball Camp Ymca and they suffered a devastating storm last Thursday morning at 6:00 AM. They have 50 trees or more SNAPPED off and smashed, with an estimate of 500 to 1000 ripped up by the roots, bent over into others and laying on the ground. It is tangled and impassable in many parts of the camp. I am shocked and amazed at the destruction. I feel overwhelmed by not knowing how to proceed. The camp and nature center is closed Consumers power has not even visited yet as of 11:00 Sunday. Power cables and lines are down on the ground and trees are on many lines. If anyone can help clear branches and trees please volunteer. I’m not versed in tree removal costs, but I estimate it will take $200,000.00 to do tree removal and disposal. I am going to set up a go fund me page later today. Please call me if you can help. No injuries have occurred but many buildings have been damaged. The camp will loose all the food in the freezers, and will loose all activity revenue fir the next couple of months. Please let me know if you can help. Apparently the insurance does not cover tree removal unless it is on a structure. Then they only get it down for safety and not necessarily removal. Please help