Heavy Snowfall Causes TCI Warehouse Roof Collapse

Michelin North America sent its Michelin Disaster Response Unit trailer to a Tire Centers L.L.C. (TCI) warehouse in Dallas last week after heavy snow caused part of the roof to collapse. TCI, a wholly-owned subsidiary of MNA, said the 16,000-square foot Dallas warehouse is roughly 30 years old. A section of the roof caved in 12 February after record snowfall in the Dallas area. In addition to the roof, about 7,000 tyres were damaged.

Currently the warehouse is operating at 70 per cent efficiency. This is partly due to the fact that TCI was able to acquire an existing 4,000-square foot structure next door a few years ago. In addition to part of the warehouse, which is running off a generator, the TCI location will operate out of MNA’s trailer, a fully equipped “tyre centre on wheels” that features six air stations for mounting, dismounting, repairing and balancing tyres, as well as satellite communications equipment. The 53-foot trailer was launched in 2006 to assist in areas hit by natural disasters, according to MNA.