NEWAYGO COUNTY, Mich. – Communities in West Michigan near the Croton Dam have been directed to evacuate the area Thursday as water levels continue to rise.
Residents living in the Muskegon River floodplain below Croton were ordered to evacuate at around 10 a.m. on April 16, according to the Newaygo County Emergency Services.
Recommended Videos
Public safety officials are checking the affected areas to ensure residents have left.
Those who wish to stay in the floodplain may not have access to public safety services until conditions are safe for responders.
The Newaygo County Emergency Services said major flooding is expected along the Muskegon River with water levels increasing on Friday and Saturday.
Flooding conditions are expected to be similar or worse than the April 2014 flood, officials said.
If water levels in the Muskegon River reach over 17 feet at Bridgeton, the Maple Island Bridge is expected to close.
Muskegon River water levels
Three USGS Streamgages are used to determine river levels.
As of 9 a.m. on April 16, the water levels on the Muskegon River are between 12.07 and 16.56 feet with flows over 10,300 cubic feet per second. Flood stage is between 9 and 13 feet.
Areas impacted by flooding
The following areas are impacted by the flooding:
- Leisure Land Subdivision in Bridgeton Township
- Sycamore Flats in Ashland Township
- 100th Ave in Ashland Township
- Old Women’s Bend in Garfield Township
- Anderson Flat’s in Garfield Township
- Fright Hill in Bridgeton Township
- Homesite Park in Bridgeton Township
- River Ridge in Ashland Township
- Bell Meadow Drive in Bridgeton Township
- Devil’s Hole in Brooks Township
- Sarrell Street in the City of Newaygo
Road closures
The following roads are closed due to washouts or water over the roadway:
- Division Street Bridge (Maple Island Road) in the Village of Hesperia
- Lee Ave. south of Lake Dr. in Sheridan Township. Culvert failure.
- Osborn Ave. south of 32nd St. in Dayton Township.
- Ramshorn Dr. south of 32nd St. in Dayton Township.
- Luce Ave. north of 32nd St. in Dayton/Sherman Township.
- Comstock Ave. near Adams St. in Denver Township.
- Baldwin Ave between Baseline and 8th in Sherman Township
- 112th between Fitzgearld and Dickinson in Bridgeton Township
- Bridge Street Bridge in City of Newaygo
Evacuation services
The Newaygo County Emergency Services said an evacuation center is available at the Newaygo County Commission on Aging, located at 93 S Gibbs in White Cloud.
Residents can call 211 for general support or 911 for emergencies.
Flood safety tips
The Newaygo County Emergency Services gave the following tips during a flood:
- Turn Around, Don’t Drown
- Avoid walking or driving through flood waters.
- Do not drive over bridges that are over fast-moving floodwaters. Floodwaters can scour foundation material from around the footings and make the bridge unstable.
- Just 6 inches of moving water can knock you down, and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away.
- If there is a chance of flash flooding, move immediately to higher ground.
- If floodwaters rise around your car but the water is not moving, abandon the car and move to higher ground. Do not leave the car and enter moving water.
White River
Water continued to rise on the White River in Hesperia. Local officials said water is flowing over the spillway of the Hesperia Dam and may soon begin overtopping the dam itself.
Water is already impacting the structure of the Division Street bridge upstream of the dam, officials said.
Residents living near White River in Hesperia are urged to track the weather and be prepared to take action.