Chevy Forced To Stop Corvette Production After Deadly Tornado Outbreak
Andrew Koole
· 3 min read
Bowling Green,
Kentucky
was one of the worst-hit communities during the deadly streak of tornadoes that hit the Midwest on December 11. A total of 15 people died as a result of the storm that hit the city of just over 70,000 residents.On top of that, GM’s Bowling Green assembly plant, one of the city’s top 10 employers, was forced to press pause after a fire caused by the storm damaged the facility, making it unsafe for work.
The plant produces the
Chevy
Corvette Stingray and Corvette Z06
, two models that have already been plagued by production stalls this year because of supply chain issues. Details on when the plant will be reopened are yet to be released.
The Midwest tornado-streak catastrophe
The damage caused by tornadoes in Bowling Green was akin to the destruction found in many communities across six states. The worst loss of life occurred at workplaces that were still running when the storms hit.
The
New York Times
says six died at an Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville, Illinois
when a portion of the building collapsed from being hit by a tornado. The worst death toll happened at a candle factory in Mayfield, Kentucky, a two-hour drive from Bowling Green. The storm hit as production was in full swing to increase supply for the Christmas season. Eight employees died and at least six are still missing.
Thankfully, the Bowling Green Chevy plant was not occupied when the storm hit and the
fire
broke out. But nearby residents captured the flames with their smartphones.Plant damage adds to Chevy’s ongoing production woes
The forced closure of the Corvette factory in Bowling Green is unwelcome news to GM.
Carbuzz
says the company already paused production
of the sports car multiple times this year because of the ongoing microchip shortage. The lack of supply has caused a growing backlog of orders for the Corvette and other models affected like the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra. GM is resorting to drastic measures to ration chips, even switching back to
manual crank windows
for some models.The global chip shortage, which is expected to continue into 2023, is wreaking havoc on the rest of the U.S. auto industry, too.
Ford sales
were down 33% in August. Carmakers in Japan and Europe have also seen declining numbers this year.What to do if you are stuck in a car during a tornado
For many during the tornado streak, the carnage was inescapable. The storms tore through homes and businesses like they were made of paper. Even so, any type of building is safer to be in during a tornado than a car.
That said, if you end up in a vehicle during a tornado,
Jerry
found some tips on how to respond as safely as possible. First off, make sure to pull over and keep your seatbelt on. Don’t park on a bridge, and only pull into a ditch if absolutely necessary.
Once you’ve stopped, cover your head with your hands or a blanket if you have one with you, and wait the storm out.
