Detroit Three Operations Hindered By Flooding

by Cameron Aubernon

August 13th, 2014 2:39 AM

detroit three operations hindered by flooding

Nearly 4.6 inches of rain fell over Detroit Monday, flooding several areas throughout the city and grinding operations to a halt for the Detroit Three.

Automotive News reports General Motors closed its Technical Center Tuesday due to flooded highways and power outages. According to representative Katie McBride, the closure affected 19,000. She added that some employees returned later in the day to work second-shift, and that other parts of the center will reopen dependent on repairs needed. No other GM facility closed due to the weather.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles representative Jodi Tinson reported that four of the automaker’s Detroit plants — Jefferson North Assembly, Sterling Heights Assembly, Sterling Stamping and Warren Stamping — were all severely affected by flooding and road closures. In addition, a car carrier loaded with Chrysler 200s was stranded when flood waters reached its position on Mound Road near I-696 in Warren.

Ford representative Kristina Adamski said production was slowed Monday evening in five of its plants in the area, with supplier delays affecting the automaker’s plants in Chicago and Louisville, Ky. She added that production returned to normal Tuesday.

#Detroit #DetroitThree #FiatChryslerAutomobiles #Flooding #Ford #GeneralMotors #ProductionDelays

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7 of 37 comments

Mars3941 on Aug 13, 2014

If the car carrier loaded with those new Chrysler 200's got stuck in the flood and you can cut a good deal on one of them I'm in. I'll take that loaded top of the line black one on top. Thanks.

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JohnAZ on Aug 13, 2014

Can anyone please explain how CO2 caused a weather front to move slowly over the Detroit area and allow 5" of rain to fall in the area? BTW, calling me a denier is not an explanation.

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- APaGttH on Aug 13, 2014
  
  ...any explanation provided to my loaded question will be dismissed by me, but it will make for some great popcorn if someone actually takes a stab at this. Amuse me!!!
  
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- This Is Dawg on Aug 13, 2014
  
  "Rising temperatures can have several effects on the factors involved in weather. For example: •They increase the rate of evapotranspiration, which is the total evaporation of water from soil, plants and water bodies. This can have a direct effect on the fequency and intensity of droughts. •A warmer atmosphere can hold more water vapour. The atmosphere now holds 4% more water vapour than it did 40 years ago as a result of increasing temperatures. This increases the risk of extreme rainfall events. •Changes in sea-surface temperatures (SSTs) also have an effect by bringing about associated changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation. This has been implicated in some droughts, particularly in the tropics. These changes don't automatically generate extreme weather events but they change the odds that such events will take place. It is equivalent to the loading of dice, leading to one side being heavier, so that a certain outcome becomes more likely. In the context of global warming, this means that rising temperatures increase the odds of extreme events occurring." http://www.skepticalscience.com/extreme-weather-global-warming.htm TL;DR it did not "cause a weather front to move slowly over the Detroit area and allow" anything. It is simply an increase in temperature and water vapour with different effects in different areas.
  
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- Indi500fan on Aug 13, 2014
  
  @This Is Dawg It's been well below avg summer temps in the Great Lakes. Indy hasn't even sniffed a 90 deg day yet, most in the 70s. If I was a betting man, I'd wager the upcoming winter is another stinker. 1976/77/78 was a pattern like that.
  
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Bball40dtw on Aug 13, 2014

Good thing the Big 3 don't make cars in my basement. They would have had all of those cars filled with sewer water. I don't feel bad for them, they probably have decent insurance policies.

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JohnnyFirebird on Aug 13, 2014

I'm pretty sure the management at the Lil' US 3 are all secretly breathing a sigh of relief - this will cut into the massive day supply numbers that TTAC posted about the other day without getting into union hassles. The downside is, of course, that they'll still have to pay the employees and nothing will get made. So it's probably a mixed sigh.

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