Just saw on the news that a tornado hit GM's plant that builds TrailBlazers and Envoys in Oklahoma City, OK.
From what I can gather, it reads like it hit the paint shop. I'm not sure of the condition of the actual assembly plant.
They showed two car carriers overturned and burning. Don't think there were any vehicles on them.
Some of the authorities in OKC are using terms like "direct hit" and "completely destroyed" when talking about the plant.
No word on any casualties.
I hope it's not too bad.
While these vehicles are also built at the Moraine,OH plant, OKC is the only plant for the extended wheelbase GMT-360s.
In addition, we (New Venture Gear) supply the transfer cases for these vehicles. I hope this doesn't affect us too much.

 

More info about the tornado strike in OKC from KFOR-TV.

A series of F-2 or weak F-3 tornadoes swept across the Metro just as the afternoon rush hour was beginning. One tornado hit the GM plant causing major structural damage.

The storm also passed near Tinker Air Force Base. A GM spokesman said employees at the plant had plenty of time to take shelter. No employees were hurt. Two truck drivers were injured.

"At Sooner Road and I-240 we had to stop for the tornado to cross in front of us. As it did we went east on 240 and essentially stopped just south of the doors to GM and watched the tornado pass over the entire plant," said 4 Warn Storm Team member David Payne. "I knew by the tremendous amount of debris in the air -- insulation, boards -- that it was doing significant damage to the plant."

The plant sustained extreme roof and window damage. An area on the west side of the plant is on fire.

 

thanks for the info.

 

See, Jesus really does drive a sports car

 

 

But there was a good picture I saw somewhere showing a line of TrailBlazers bunged up, with all the windows sucked out, and the corner of the plant along with a chunk of wall ripped off !

Amazing the power of Mother Nature !


HuJass -

What's a GMT-360 ??



I wonder how long it will take to "undo" that much plant damage.

That's all the more reason for G.M. to put some plants in the Houston area !! We don't get tornadoes !!

(Only hurricanes - but I won't tell if you guys don't.)


Britt

 

how about some plants in upstate NY, the only thing bad we get here is snow.

 

Britt,
The GMT-360 is GM's internal code name for the platform that the TrailBlazer,Envoy,Bravada, and Ranier are built on.



And here's an update on the OKC plant:

OKC General Motors Production Plant Severely Damaged

Damages to the General Motors plant in Thursday's tornado has halted production at the plant. No GM employees were hurt, but two truck drivers for GM suppliers suffered minor injuries.

The west wall of the 4 million-square-foot plant was peeled off. GM officials have no specific word on damage to the equipment inside. The plant's paint shop was heavily damaged and electricity was knocked out.

"At Sooner Road and I-240 we had to stop for the tornado to cross in front of us. As it did we went east on 240 and essentially stopped just south of the doors to GM and watched the tornado pass over the entire plant," said 4 Warn Storm Team member David Payne. "I knew by the tremendous amount of debris in the air -- insulation, boards -- that it was doing significant damage to the plant."

Production employees at the plant have been told not to report to work today. The plant produces about 600 vehicles per day, employs about 3,100 hourly workers and more than 200 salaried employees. The plant makes the GMC Envoy XL and the Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT.

Officials do not have a cost estimate of how much damage was done to the plant. Officials plan to tour the factory today to better gauge damages.

 

Here's some , compliments of a link forwarded to me.


See:

http://www.fullsizechevy.com/forum/s...threadid=63331


All I can say is:

Don't mess w/ Mother Nature !


Britt