GAYLORD, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – A brutal ice storm that slammed into northern lower Michigan on March 29th has left Gaylord and much of Otsego County looking more like a disaster zone than a scenic northern town. Downed power lines, snapped trees, and crippled communications have plunged the area into darkness and chaos.
With roads coated in ice, fuel hard to find, and grocery store shelves picked over, residents are battling not just the bitter cold – but a serious lack of basic necessities. While Gaylord isn’t the only town buried under a frozen mess, it stands as a stark symbol of the devastation northern Michigan communities are enduring. And as if the weekend storm wasn’t enough, yet another blast of winter weather rolled in today to add insult to icy injury.
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Otsego County had declared a “stay in place” order which has been lifted – and Governor Gretchen Whitmer also declared a state of emergency in the county as well as nine other counties. As of around 3 pm on Tuesday, April 1st, according to Up North Live, 87,000 households in the region still remained without power.
It’s like a war zone.
“It was unexpected,” attorney David M. Delaney told Michigan News Source about the devastation. He’s a resident who both lives and works in Gaylord. He describes a scene as something that sounds like it’s out of a really bad documentary on the apocalypse. Trees falling everywhere (on power lines, across roads, on houses) and power lines iced-up – with both trees and power lines continuing to fall.
Delaney said that “hundreds” of telephone poles are down, and it’s cold, with most people without power, heat and running water. Many stores are still closed although Meijer is open because they have a generator. There is only one gas station open as of his last report on the situation. Cell phones are inoperable with limited communications and schools are closed for the rest of the week. Delaney also added that hundreds of utility workers are staying at Camp Grayling.
Hooligan UTV captures Gaylord’s icy apocalypse in videos.
To truly grasp the jaw-droppingly grim and borderline apocalyptic conditions, check out the videos posted online by Hooligan UTV, who’s been documenting the chaos unfolding in Gaylord on their Facebook page. Hooligan UTV is a Michigan-based community centered around utility terrain vehicle (UTV) enthusiasts.
Amid all the chaos and destruction, you’ll find a common Michigan trait – neighbors stepping up. Gaylord residents are clearing roads, delivering supplies, sharing meals, checking in on the elderly, and offering shelter.
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In one of the Hooligan UTV posts from page administrator, Colton Quinn, he said, “It’s like a war zone up here in Gaylord. Can’t get down many roads, had to go ditch hopping to get my wife to work this morning. You can hear trees snapping and falling every 10 seconds.. never seen anything like this in my life… it’s like driving through a scene from the movie Twister.”
Exhausted, Quinn says that he and his 8-year-old and their dog have been riding the streets, clearing roads, getting people “unstuck” and delivering fuel and food. Right now, his posts say that he’s focusing on senior citizens. He mentioned that a “crew” from his UTV page would be coming Thursday to help clear roads and driveways so people can get out and equipment and emergency workers can get in.
Listing what is needed, Quinn said the following are essential: side-by-sides for food and fuel deliveries, heavy equipment for clearing roads and driveways, chainsaws, ropes, and manpower. Asking for help, he said that people are cold, stranded, and running out of supplies. To contact Quinn to volunteer or inquire about bringing the area supplies or equipment, he told Michigan News Source that you can call him at 989-780-0490. You can also donate money to help with fuel and supplies through the app here.
Gaylord locals share shocking stories and desperate needs.
Many other Gaylord residents have also described what they’re living through on social media. Bryan Tabit, whose photos are used in this article, said, “These pictures show only a fraction of the damage caused by the ice.” He added that crews are working hard to get power restored but that it’s a “monumental task.”
Livnfresh, a Gaylord clothing store, said on Facebook, “Our poor town of Gaylord Michigan is like a war zone. We just can’t believe an ice storm would do this. This is not what our community needed after the tornado a few years ago. With no power and freezing temps we are hurting. Please keep our community in your thoughts and prayers.”
Michael Hill of Gaylord said, “It’s really bad in Gaylord! The ice storm really did some damage to the city! I was able to deliver some emergency oxygen equipment from our branch to the ER & Evangelical Free Church in Gaylord that is setup as a Shelter for the Community! Praying for everyone involved from the first responders to the power company workers. That are helping people get shelter and care as power will be out for a while due to the down power lines!”
Gaylord’s Cameron Stefanski said, “The last few days have been absolutely brutal for Gaylord and surrounding counties…I cannot express the anxiety that comes with trees falling down all around you and above you for 48 hours straight with no power in below freezing temps. My heart aches for the vastness of this devastation for our community.”
An update on what’s going on and how to help.
In an updated post from The Petoskey News-Review on Tuesday, April 1st, they reported that the Otsego County Emergency Management announced the shelter-in-place advisory has been lifted, effective immediately and that major roadways in and out of Gaylord are now clear of downed power lines, improving access to the area. Some businesses have reopened to provide essential supplies to
residents. However, emergency officials are still urging the public to limit travel to essential trips only as recovery and cleanup efforts continue.
Stefanski said that people can help the community by visiting: Otsego County United Way and Otsego Community Foundation’s Disaster Relief Fund. There is also a Facebook page set up called “Gaylord Long Term Recovery: Ice Storm 2025” where you can find more information on how to help.
The Otsego Community Foundation says that they anticipate needing volunteers in the next few days for manual labor clean up, feeding people and donating supplies.
