Editor’s Note: A severe ice storm battered northern Michigan’s lower peninsula over March 21–23, causing widespread power outages and extensive property damage. 

Thick ice accumulation snapped tree limbs and downed power lines, leaving thousands of residents without electricity and impassable roads in several counties. 

Local officials reported that homes and businesses suffered significant structural damage from falling ice and debris, prompting emergency crews to work around the clock to restore services. 

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency and activated the State Emergency Operations Center to coordinate recovery efforts statewide. 

Roofing Contractor magazine Publisher Jill Bloom has deep roots in the Northern lower peninsula, including a family lake house in Gaylord, roughly 232 miles north of Detroit. 

Stunned by the damage wrought, she called upon the help of Rubén González, owner of Ais Construction, to help communities affected by the storm. González mobilized a crew, and together, Bloom and González drove the four hours north of Detroit with 11 field crewmen to bring relief. 

This is Bloom’s account of their story:

***

It all began when I stumbled upon a Facebook post about the unfolding situation [in the Northern part of Michigan’s lower peninsula]. Concerned, I started checking on my neighbors in our “Up-North” community. 

To my dismay, I discovered no one had power and that Governor Whitmer had declared a State of Emergency for 10 counties! I knew then that this was serious. Determined to assess the extent of the damage, I dug out my trusty neighborhood directory and began making calls.

The tree limb that crashed through Bob and Sue's roof.

My first call was to Bob and Sue, an elderly couple in their 80s who live in Gaylord year-round. Our neighborhood is a mix of about 70% second homes and 30% permanent residents. 

Bob, who struggles with health issues and relies on a cane, often finds it challenging to manage the upkeep of his home. He recounted a terrifying incident: in the dead of night, a tree crashed through their roof, narrowly missing where he and Sue were sleeping. The impact, he said, was like a bomb exploding. 

That was the moment I knew I couldn’t just stay home! I had to act and find a way to help.

I reached out to my good friend Ruben Gonzalez, a dependable roofing contractor we always turn to in times of need. I texted him, asking if he would come up north to tarp some roofs. 

His reply was immediate and heartfelt: “Yes of course,” followed by, “I’ll help Saturday, Sunday, and Monday too.” 

His all-in commitment sparked a wave of determination in me. Okay, I thought, let’s do this. I took to our Compton Drive Facebook page and posted, “I’m coming up with a roofing crew. Who has emergency roofing work?”

My next call was to Jacob Stuckman, the owner of Stuckman Tree Experts, who had cleared several towering trees, ranging from 25 to 30 feet, from our yard last summer.

I asked if he knew of any customers needing urgent help. He did and promptly emailed me a list of about 30 names, addresses, phone numbers, and emails to ensure his clients’ homes could be made watertight.

* * *

Our first stop was my neighbor Bronson’s house. He had reached out to me after seeing my post. A large tree had fallen and sliced off a chunk of his garage just above the door. Thankfully, this was a relatively easy fix. 

Bloom and Rubén González, owner of Ais Construction.

With a couple of pieces of plywood and some spare shingles he still had in the garage, Ruben’s crew had the damage patched up in no time.

While a small win, it was still a good one to kick off the day and a reminder of how quickly the neighborhood was rallying together.

As Ruben fixed up Bronson, I called all the people from Stuckman’s list. 

From that list, we first stopped at the home of a man named Seth. He had a branch that had pierced through the roof, and someone had already been up there and cut it off flush with the roof; that clearly wasn’t going to solve the problem. 

Ruben and his team removed the remaining part of the branch, replaced the damaged plywood, and laid down new shingles. This repair required a trip to a local hardware store and distributor that had what they needed. 

But it all takes time, especially when you're not sure who has electricity or the ability to serve contractors in the moment.

Next on Stuckman's list was Steve and Bryannan Shaker. The Shakers said they had purchased their home in nearby Michawaye as a second residence and weren’t there when the storm hit.

Steve said he had received some photos of trees lying across the roof and was anxious to know whether any had landed on or had punched through his roof. 

He asked if we could swing by and give him an assessment. When Ruben and his team arrived at Steve’s house, the damage was evident: a massive tree had crashed through the roof, creating several holes — one as big as a large pizza!  

Steve was also concerned about interior damage, so he remotely opened his garage door and asked us to check inside. I walked upstairs and confirmed a branch had broken through the ceiling of an upstairs bedroom.

Ruben and his crew swiftly got to work, sealing the roof and ensuring the home was protected from further damage. After finishing up at Steve’s, we returned to help Bob and Sue. 

The field crew that Rubén González, owner of Ais Construction, assembled to head four hours north from Detroit to help members of RC Publisher Jill Bloom's community. Image: Courtesy of Jill Bloom

* * *

The elderly couple's situation was even more precarious; one side of their roof was so moss-covered it was dangerously slippery. 

It was nearly 4:30 p.m., and Ruben’s crew hadn’t even had lunch yet, but they pressed on to get started. It took time to ensure they were harnessed correctly and tied off before they could safely begin the work. 

Once again, we had to run to a local big box store to find shingles that matched or at least came close enough to patch things up. It was nearly 7 p.m. by the time we called it a day.

Despite the exhaustion, Ruben also turned the day into a learning experience for his team. He pointed out hail damage all over my mom’s lake house, giving the crew a mini-lesson in identifying and addressing those issues. That’s just who he is — always teaching, always giving.

With no hotels or motels available due to widespread power outages, it made the most sense for Ruben and his crew to head back downstate. 

Meanwhile, my sister and I prepared to spend the night at the cottage, bundled up in the cold. But at around 7:30 PM, a miracle happened — the power came back on! 

It took a few hours for the house to warm up, but the return of heat and hot water was nothing short of a blessing.

Earlier that day, my sister had also lined up another company to help begin the massive cleanup for the five of us on Compton Drive. Our properties were littered with debris, branches, snapped-off tree tops and fallen limbs everywhere. 

While the road ahead was long, we were making progress. Step by step. House by house. Neighbor by neighbor. Moments like these remind me why our industry feels like one big family. It’s truly special and fills me with gratitude. 

This field is full of authentic, caring people who step up at a moment’s notice. It’s not just about fixing roofs or clearing trees — it’s about coming together as a community. 

That genuine sense of camaraderie is what makes this work so remarkable.