Businesses boom as Holland cleans up from storms

HOLLAND, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - In Ottawa County, a number of streets remain closed because they are either under water or washed out.

From flooded streets, to flooded basements and ripped open roofs, for some there is a silver lining developing from the mess that weekend storms left behind, and it has to do with dollars and cents.

While the storms created a lot of damage, that in turn generated a lot of business.

Josh Watkin's business has been booming since Saturday morning.

"Phones ringing off the hook," said Watkin, "a lot of calls."

Watkin, who owns Watkin Tree Pro, has been in the tree-cutting business for fifteen years, and says he's never been this busy.

"We've been getting farther and farther behind, but trying to keep up," said Watkin.

On Tuesday his crew was out working on a big job clearing a property that was hit hard on Friday night.

Just down the road from Watkin's crew, Pine Creek Construction had crews out securing ragged rooftops and providing quotes for repair work.

"We've been tarping roofs, boarding up windows," said Ron Brouwer of Pine Creek Construction. "We worked until nine last night and I don't see it letting up."

While it may not be easy seeing neighborhoods torn apart, from a strictly economic standpoint, many are finding that this is business at its busiest.

For homeowners and businesses dealing with loss and who have not gotten local, state or federal assistance, here's what you can do.

If your home or business sustained at least 40 percent damage you can apply for a Small Business Administration declaration, which would qualify you for a low interest loan.

To qualify for that, Holland and Ottawa County will need to identify at least 25 homes or business that sustained 40 percent or more uninsured loss of the building structure only. This does not include personal property.

Residents are encouraged to report that type of loss to the City of Holland at 355-1350.