CHEBOYGAN, Mich. – Water levels at the Cheboygan Dam complex kept climbing overnight, and more rain is in the forecast. As of Wednesday morning, the water level is just 6.6 inches below the top of the dam.
As crews work around the clock, residents prepare for the possibility that the dam could be topped.
Consumers Energy says they are monitoring the situation and may proactively shut off power in parts of the area.
On Wednesday, there was also a brief moment this afternoon when people were without power as Consumers Energy worked on the electrical system. Over 1,000 people were impacted.
“Other than throwing our meds in there, we’re ready to go, if we have to,” Cheboygan resident Kathy Buckingham said.
Buckingham lives just about two blocks from the Cheboygan River and the dam complex.
As the water creeps up, so do her fears.
“Have you ever seen anything like this?” Local 4 asked Buckingham.
“No, I haven’t. Never. I haven’t even seen a snowfall like we had this year either,” she said.
Today, Local 4 spoke to multiple members of the Department of Natural Resource’s Incident Management Team and the county emergency management.
“The first two we have are 24-inch pumps and should bring together a volume of 20,000 gallons per minute,” Laurie Abel, the public information officer for the DNR’s incident management team, said.
“We are in constant communication with our engineering staff and private contractors to keep the aquadam behind me in place and stabilized with reinforcement as needed,” Nate Stearns, the operation section chief of the incident management team for the DNR, said.
In addition to the six gates that are open, now authorities say the hydroelectric portion of the complex could be turned on before the end of the day Wednesday.
“We are monitoring the Kleber Dam down and also the Alverno Dam,” Jeremy Runstrom, the Emergency Management Director at Cheboygan County, said. “We are keeping an eye on them.”
On Wednesday, authorities lifted the evacuation for the part of the city impacted by a levee that broke in the Little Black River area.
Part of the area is still in a “Ready” zone. It’s a part of the “Ready, Set, Go” system.
Ready means the water is under 12 inches below the top of the dam and people should be ready with a “go” bag, like Buckingham’s.
“We’ve got toothpaste, shampoo, razors, everything you need for an overnight stay somewhere or two days,” Buckingham said.
Authorities say anyone here should be signed up for emergency alerts and should reach out to 211 for local resources.