Vehicle and Property Damage After Massive Hail Hits Southeast Michigan

After tennis ball-sized hail fell from the sky as a part of a series of strong storms that charged through southeast Michigan late Thursday afternoon, communities most affected by the damage switched into cleanup and repair mode Friday.

Several businesses and residents in communities such as Davison, 10 miles northeast of Flint, said they’d never seen anything like the massive hail that fell during a brief period. The owner of a local auto repair shop said he was bombarded with calls about damaged cars.

Wayne Wodtke, a floral designer at Vogt’s Flowers and Gifts in Flint, was at work when the hail hit Thursday afternoon, creating a "dramatic" sound against the building’s roof. When he and his coworkers went out to see their cars after the storm passed, all were damaged, but his 2022 Hyundai Tucson seemed to be the worst.

It’s dented in 75 spots from the hail and the windshield is destroyed by five holes. Wodtke said the hail was the biggest he’s ever seen.