What caused Michigan flooding?

The failure of two Michigan dams on Tuesday evening led to devastating floods and the evacuation of more than 10,000 people. Located 140 miles north of Detroit, the Sanford Dam and the Edenville Dam broke after experiencing heavy rains, causing extreme flooding along the Tittabawassee River.

What happened Michigan Flood?

The flooding ruined crops, destroyed homes. It was, according to the National Weather Service, “the worst flood disaster in 50 years,” causing damage of $400 million and $500 million, which is between $950 million and $1.2 billion today.

What caused Michigan dam failure?

An independent investigation into last year’s Edenville Dam failure in Midland, Michigan, found that as the reservoir filled to a record high, the dam’s loose-sand embankment became waterlogged, causing it to liquify and collapse under the pressure of the water backed up behind it.

What was the biggest flood in Michigan?

The September 1986 Michigan Flooding was the worst flood disaster in 50 years and would not be exceeded until the August 2014 Metro Detroit Flood….Great 1986 Flood in Southeast Michigan.

What caused the flooding in Midland Michigan?

(Midland High School’s mascot: the Chemics.) When the dams failed, the Tittabawassee River rose thirty-four feet, six feet above the marker for “major flooding.” It totally emptied Wixom Lake, inundating neighboring communities. Some fifty homes were destroyed, 1,647 damaged, and 642 otherwise affected.

Do Michigan have floods?

Flooding is not uncommon in Michigan. In 2013, historic flooding along the Grand Rapids River affected many homes and businesses. Heavy rains often cause flash flooding across the state. Flooding poses safety, health, and economic threats and could mean having to leave your home.

What happened to the dams in Michigan?

Heavy rainfall and rising floodwaters led to the breaching of two privately-owned dams in Michigan on the evening of May 19, 2020. The Landsat 8 satellite passed over the area the day after the dam breaks and captured imagery of the flooding that followed. …

What dams failed in Michigan?

Dam safety in the US state of Michigan was thrown into the spotlight after the failure of Edenville and Sanford Dams during May 2020. On 19 May 2020, the Edenville and Sanford Dams near Midland in the US state of Michigan, failed.

Which dams broke in Michigan?

In May, the failure of the Edenville and Sanford dams near Midland—resulting from negligence and ineffective regulation—threatened to wash away more than just buildings.

What really happened at Edenville and Sanford dams?

The catastrophic failure of the two dams impacted more than 2,500 structures and caused more than 200-million-dollars in damage. Edenville and Sanford Dams were two of four dams owned by Boyce Hydro Power along the Tittabawassee River in Michigan.

What’s the worst natural disaster in Michigan?

June 8, 2003 will mark the 50th anniversary of Michigan’s worst natural disaster, in terms of deaths and injuries; the Flint-Beecher Tornado. This was the last tornado to kill over 100 people in a single tornado event anywhere in the United States.

What day did the flood happen in Michigan?

DETROIT — A recent rainstorm that closed highways and damaged thousands of homes and businesses in Metro Detroit was a dramatic example of how unprepared the region is to handle extreme weather. The June 25 flood was the second disastrous flood to hit Detroit in seven years.

How many people in Michigan were told to evacuate due to dams?

About 11,000 people in central Michigan were told to evacuate their homes after rapidly rising water overwhelmed dams, creating what the National Weather Service called a “life-threatening situation.” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said the destruction in Midland County caused by the failures of the Edenville and Sanford dams was “devastating.”

Where are the two major rivers flooding in Michigan?

By Tuesday afternoon, at least two rivers in mid-Michigan — the Tittabawassee River in Midland and the Rifle River near Sterling — had reached their major flood stage. The Edenville Dam on the Tittabawassee River, which is owned by Boyce Hydro, breached Tuesday evening.

What happened to the two dams north of Midland?

Water breached the two dams north of Midland on Tuesday evening after days of heavy rain. By Wednesday morning, water — waist-deep in places near Sanford, video from CNN affiliate WDIV shows — was lapping up against businesses and homes around the county.

How bad is the flooding in Midland Michigan?

While the full physical damage in Midland — a city of about 41,000 people downstream of the dams — is still unclear, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer described the flooding earlier on Wednesday as devastating. Midland is home to Dow Chemical Co .’s headquarters and manufacturing complex.