B93's birthday gets a flood of fans and water

B93's birthday gets a flood of fans and water
Oooh, what a soggy mess.  B93 in Michigan had an awesome lineup of acts to celebrate their birthday this weekend at the Ionia County Fairgrounds including Blake Shelton, Frankie Ballard, The Lost Trailers, Julianne Hough, Zac Brown Band, Craig Morgan, Dierks Bentley, Emerson Drive, Justin Moore, Love & Theft, Sarah Buxton, and Trent Tomlinson.  Unfortunately Mother Nature decided to not cooperate. 

First off, Saturday police had to shut down the fairgrounds due to it being full, having to turn away bunches of disappointed fans.  Then after heavy rainfall on Friday night and early Saturday, the Grand River began flooding, leaving hundreds stranded when their cars were too submerged to be removed from their parking spots.  Officials canceled Sunday's performances and said in a press conference on Sunday morning that it may be Wednesday before the stranded cars can be retrieved.  About 130 people ended up at an emergency Red Cross station at a local middle school. 

The shelter has food, water and other provisions for people who have no way to leave the concert venue after being asked to abandon their cars in the grass parking lots near the county fairground

The concert-goers became stranded at the Ionia County fairgrounds after a stretch of the Grand River rose Saturday, cutting off exits to parking area for thousands.

It's the sixth time since Christmas the Ionia County fairgrounds have flooded.

Dozens of medical personnel responded, and over a dozen people have been treated for minor injuries. Search teams are combing the area to make sure no one is lost.

Sounds like a very memorable birthday bash.  Despite the weather and flood problems, B93 has a ton of awesome pictures and videos you can check out here.  Mlive also has a great set of pictures here.

Just glad to hear everyone was relatively unscathed and I'm sure they'll all be talking about 2009's flooded birthday for years to come. 

Published 6/21/09 by

shanda208 5 shanda208

DISCLAIMER: This posting was submitted by a user of the site not from The Insider editorial staff. All users have acknowledged and agreed that the submission of their story and its contents is in compliance with our Terms of Use.

Comments (18)

  • orLogin
  • ok seriously i think people need to stop complaining. i mean come on.. ya our trucks n cars didnt all make it out safe.. but least we didnt have any serious injurys...come on quite bitchin and grow up.. im 16 and was by myself all my friends left so...
    Anonymous 10/22/09 Reply
  • i wonder if they are planning on the free fair being affected by the flooding of the flood plain that is coming up in just a few weeks
    Anonymous 6/25/09 Reply
    • just went past there today there are vendor food trailers on the north side of the grand stand. do not know if from the bash or not.
      MichaelC74 6/26/09
  • Consumer's Energy was instructed by Federal Authorities to release the dam, They do this several times a year when needed. The blame should not be placed on Consumer's they were just doing their job.
    Anonymous 6/23/09 Reply
    • HELLO, PLEASE GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT!! THE WATER CAME FROM THE MAPLE RIVER WATER SHED THAT AREA HAD 4 INCHES OF RAIN AND THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOLD ALL AREAS DOWN RIVER WOULD HAVE FLOODING SO NATURALLY A FLOOD PLAIN WILL FLOOD.
      Anonymous 6/25/09
  • Re. B-93 Birthday Bash
    Item: vehicles abandoned and submerged in the Grand River floodplain
    Question:
    Why is this situation not being addressed by the DEQ. These vehicles are sitting submerged in the flood plain of the largest River in the state,...
    Anonymous 6/22/09 Reply
    • HEY, BRUCE I THINK YOU WOULD BE THE FIRST TO CALL DEQ BECAUSE THE WATER FLOWS TO YOU IN GRAND RAPIDS AND ALONG WITH ALL THOSE POLLUTANTS. I HOPE YOU DO CALL DEQ.
      THE CITY OF IONIA AND B-93 NEW THAT THE RIVER WAS RISING.
      Anonymous 6/25/09
  • My car is in this mess as well....mine was in round 1 as I call it, when they made the annousment at 3pm to move your vehical it was already to late as the water was up to seat level in my car. I live 1 1/2 hours a way and have no clue how my car is...
    Anonymous 6/22/09 Reply
    • HEY GOOD LUCK!! SOME COMP INSURANCE WILL NOT COVER FLOODED OR SUBMERGED VEHICLES CHECK WITH YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY TO FIND OUT WITCH COMP YOU HAVE. BECAUSE SOME INSURANCE COMPANIES WILL BREAK THERE INSURANCES DOWN AND YOU WILL PICK AND CHOSE WITCH...
      Anonymous 6/25/09
  • My car is in the flooding and it really sucks they are not doing anything to help as long as it had nothing to do with them b93 doesnt even care--what kind of family are they
    Anonymous 6/22/09 Reply
  • This was awful. I was involved in the mess. They had made an announcement around 2:30 about the flooding only affecting a dozen cars or so...but the annoucement seemed very cheesy and was in a jokingly manner. Little did we know that I would have...
    Anonymous 6/22/09 Reply
    • TO ALL THAT HAVE FLOODED CARS DO NOT TRY TO START YOUR VEHICLES UNTIL THE WIRING HAS TIME TO DRY OUT OR YOU WILL DAMAGE THE VEHICLES COMPUTER AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY REP WILL TELL YOU IF YOUR CAR WILL BE COVERED UNDER YOUR...
      Anonymous 6/25/09
  • Allowing alcohol on the fairgrounds? Don't they have respect for those pasted due to this in

    previous concerts? This is only making more of a mess of an already hectic concert as is. This

    is a mistake that is going unchecked in all of this....
    Anonymous 6/22/09 Reply
    • You do not belong at concerts thats what people do if you dont like it dont go. I dont like country i prefer classic rock and jam bands and its just as prevalent there too. What does this have to do with cars getting flooded, complaing about...
      Anonymous 6/22/09
  • The flooding occured b/c Consumers Power opened the dam and the cars were parked in the flood plane. Thanks Consumers!

    Pam
    Anonymous 6/21/09 Reply
    • Consumer's Energy was instructed by Federal Authorities to release the dam, They do this several times a year when needed. The blame should not be placed on Consumer's they were just doing their job. Get educated before you start blaming people.
      Anonymous 6/23/09
    • PLEASE TO ALL WHO MAY WHAT TO BLAME CONSUMERS ENERGY
      FOR THERE DAM. THE FACTS ARE THAT THE FLOOD WATER DID NOT COME FROM ABOVE LYONS DAM WHERE THERE HYDRO-ELECTRIC DAM IS LOCATED THE WATER ENTERED THE GRAND RIVER FROM THE MAPLE RIVER AT MUIR. WHAT...
      Anonymous 6/25/09
  • "Where's Noah when you need him?"
    Anonymous 6/21/09 Reply
Write a Comment