An Ionia County judge rejected a plea to create a class action …
A photo provided by B93 shows more than 1,000 cars stranded at the Ionia County fairgrounds after the evacuation of the B93 Birthday Bash. (June 21, 2009)
An Ionia County judge rejected a plea to create a class action …
Updated: Monday, 22 Jun 2009, 7:53 PM EDT
Published : Monday, 22 Jun 2009, 11:01 AM EDT
In an interview on WOOD Radio Monday morning, Clear Channel Vice President Tim Feagan said "everybody wants to point fingers" over the flooding and evacuation of the B-93 Birthday Bash Saturday night.
Feagan, appearing on the Mouth-to-Mouth program with Michelle McKormack, admitted that once the water began rising "it was a no-win situation."
"As the day progressed we weren't able to beat the water rising, " he said. "I don't know what (the) Consumers (Energy) guidelines are, but I imagine as a layman that they have to release the water from (Webber) Dam."
The station has hired private security at the Ionia County fairgrounds "to make sure no one can get in there and mess with" the hundreds of cars that are trapped by water, many of them partially submerged. "Our best estimate and hope is Wednesday of this week we can get them out."
He admitted some cars will be fine, but " some will be significantly damaged ."
Feagan praised the work of Ionia officials. "They're well connected. They instantly had someone on the phone and someone in there in trucks" once the water became unmanageable. "The #1 priority was safety."
A Frequently Asked Questions area is now posted on the B93 website . There is also a place to register online with make/model information for stranded cars. Feagan suggests owners of stranded cars talk with their insurance carrier.
"The National Weather Service gave us their best projection," he said. "Along the way conditions changed very rapidly".