LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — UPDATE: Following the publication of this article, Governor Gretchen Whitmer has sent a letter to President Donald Trump requesting federal aid in responding to the flooding in Midland County.
“Over the past two days, a major rainfall event in mid-Michigan led to the failure of two dams and severe flooding in affected areas. Thousands of people were forced to evacuate as water surged into their streets, homes, and businesses in the county of Midland,” Whitmer wrote in part.
Whitmer is also asking President Trump to declare an emergency for Midland County on an expedited basis.
A copy of the letter can be read online here.
— Original Story —
Tuesday, Governor Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency for Midland County after the Edenville and Sanford Dams breached.
Around 10,000 people in the area have been affected and need evacuation.
Until further notice, shelter is available at the following locations:
- Midland High School at 1301 Eastlawn,
- Bullock Creek High School at 1420 S. Badour,
- The West Midland Family Center at 4011 W Isabella
Meanwhile, the American Red Cross has issued a notice that the following areas are available to take shelter in:
- Coleman High School – 4951 N. Lewis Road, Coleman, MI 48618
- North Midland Family Center – 2601 E. Shearer Road Midland, MI 48642
- Swan Valley High School – 8380 Ohern Road, Saginaw, MI 48609
- Freeland High School – 8250 Webster Road, Freeland, MI 48623
- Hemlock High School – 733 N. Hemlock Road, Hemlock, MI 48626
Other communities being served include Arenac, Gladwin, Iosco, Ogemaw, and Saginaw counties, where Red Cross teams are in the field surveying damaged homes and working with local emergency management to assess the impact of the flooding and additional needs in the affected communities.
“Our hearts are with the residents in the Midland area. Every person who needs a Red Cross service this week and, in the months to follow, will receive the help they need,” Chief Executive Officer of the Red Cross Michigan Region Mary Lynn Foster said. “We want everyone to know that the Red Cross has implemented additional safety and social distancing requirements to help keep people protected.”
Members of the public seeking service or volunteer opportunities are encouraged contact 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or http://www.redcross.org.
At this time, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is weighing in to survey the damage caused by the flooding.
MDOT’s GIS Unit has developed an interactive map listing all road closures related to flooding impacting the region, primarily in Gladwin, Midland, and Saginaw counties.
This geographic information system (GIS) map includes closures for state trunklines (I, M and US routes) and local roads, and will continue to provide updated road impacts until all flooding concerns subside.
The map can be viewed online at this link.
At this time, more than 20 state trunkline and local agency bridges have been impacted by flooding and will require extensive inspections prior to reopening to the public. Many bridges have also suffered damage that will need to be repaired before reopening.
MDOT will continue to monitor several high-water situations impacting roadways and bridges across the area.
“We can’t expect to see many of these bridges reopen in the next week,” MDOT Bay Region Engineer Robert Ranck, Jr. said. “However, our department is already establishing emergency contracts to begin inspections and repairs to structures as soon as water levels recede enough to allow that work. These efforts are underway, and we will continue to expedite this work safely and efficiently.”
MDOT is expecting more closures as water levels continue to rise through Saginaw County and is moving additional temporary barricades from other MDOT facilities and local road commissions to help stage those closures once necessary.
In addition, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has created a web page to post updates, documents and information from EGLE related to the Midland area dam failures.
Meanwhile, both Governor Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel are exploring all legal avenues to help mitigate the disaster.
“The damage from this crisis has devastated thousands of Midland County residents and business owners,” Whitmer said in a statement. “We must work together to ensure everyone who has been impacted by this event has the support they need to recover. I will work with the Attorney General and my partners at the state and federal level to help our families through this, and to help them get back on their feet once it’s safe to return home.”
The situation comes as the state grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, which has already impacted the state’s economy and caused thousands of deaths.
“As Michigan continues to grapple with a deadly virus, our resiliency is being tested as the state is thrust into another emergency situation,” Attorney General Nessel said. “My office will work with the Governor to consider any and all legal options that are available to address this serious set of circumstances. Throughout our state’s history, Michiganders have come together in difficult times, and this time will be no different.”
The breach and flooding is an ongoing development and will be updated as more information becomes available.
