Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency in Midland County on Tuesday after two dams failed at the same time, resulting in flash-floods. According to estimates, as many as 10,000 residents were evacuated and lodged in various shelters opened in the county.
Due to incessant rainfall, two dams viz. Edenville and Sanford collapsed at the same time on Tuesday night, "which in the next 12 to 15 hours" would inundate downtown Midland County "under approximately nine feet of water", Whitmer said in the Tuesday's press briefing, CNN reported.
Whitmer declared a state of emergency in the Midland county and urged residents to "evacuate the area" and "get somewhere safe". In the statement released by her office, she urged residents to go to their relatives, who live in other parts of the state. Others were asked to go to one of the shelters that were opened across the county.
Michigan officials referred to the calamity as "a 500-year flood", Mid-Michigan Now reported. They raised the concern that sewage systems in the county were at a huge risk. Mark Bone, Chairman of the Midland County Board of Commissioners, said that according to his estimates, 3,500 homes and 10,000 people were affected in the evacuation process.
Videos and Pictures of Flash Flood at Midland County
Several pictures and video clips of the flash flood were shared online. One such video showed the exact moment after the Edenville Dam breached. Another showed what was left in the Wixom lake, the reservoir created by the Edenville dam, after it collapsed. An aerial view showed the Edenville, Michigan dam breach followed by water pouring out of the Wixom lake.
Dramatic Video: This is video taken just after the Edenville Dam breached. Thank you to Kayla Danielle for her permission to show this video.@midmichigannow #StormReady #flooding #flood #michiganweather #michiganflood pic.twitter.com/op47xeuMcC
— Ahmad Bajjey (@AhmadBajjeyWx) May 19, 2020
This is what is left in Wixom lake after Edenville dam fals. pic.twitter.com/jrKYjCt0Sr
— Mid-Michigan NOW (@midmichigannow) May 20, 2020
Dramatic video from the air shows the Edenville, Michigan dam breach. You can see the water pouring out of Wixom Lake. Video by Ryan Kaleto. pic.twitter.com/1Gd58W028E
— Mid-Michigan NOW (@midmichigannow) May 20, 2020
Sanford flooding #miwx pic.twitter.com/n95FfDPpuq
— Elise Dolinar (@elisedwx) May 20, 2020
This was in Sanford a few hours ago. Water was moving FAST and people were bumper to bumper evacuating.
— Alysia Burgio (@AlysiaBurgioTV) May 20, 2020
Hope everyone is safe and made it to higher ground ðŸ™@midmichigannow pic.twitter.com/lBXlIDe1Yj
According to the National Weather Service the Sanford Dam has failed. This is video from Sanford, Michigan. pic.twitter.com/wg9H178MQZ
— Mid-Michigan NOW (@midmichigannow) May 20, 2020
Thousands of residents were evacuated and lodged in the four shelters set up for the purpose. The evacuation process is especially challenging at a time when the novel coronavirus is ravaging through the state. According to Bone, all the sheltered were screened and were provided masks. Also, all emergency responders were dressed in Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) and had face masks.
We have a large crowd of elderly residents at MHS tonight. Tough to see them go through this. Many school and community members assisting them. pic.twitter.com/NvAOvMpcqv
— Michael Sharrow (@MichaelSharrow2) May 20, 2020
As on Wednesday, Michigan has recorded 52,350 Covid-19 cases and 5,017 fatalities, according to Worldometer's tally.
