Damage of floods revealed in Midland County as water recedes

SANFORD, Mich. – Residents were allowed back into their neighborhoods as the floodwaters in Midland County receded.

Houses, garages, vehicles and more were swept away in the devastating Tuesday floods.

READ: ‘Catastrophic’ flooding, evacuations in mid-Michigan as dams fail: What to know

Travis Barringer and Crystal Kerns had the only home in their neighborhood still standing, but it was filled with water and destroyed.

“My turtle was in there. We had her for 6 years and thought for sure she was dead," Kerns said. "We found her. She is alive. It is just crazy. It is unreal.”

The couple and their two daughters said they have their entire lives packed into bags.

The Edenville Dam failed Tuesday night and sent Wixom Lake into a neighborhood just down river.

RELATED: NASA images show difference in rivers, dams after flooding in mid-Michigan

Barringer said the family was planning to leave the area believing the dam failure was a possibility.

Kerns said they are staying with family and are hoping to find a place to call their own for their family and pets.

A GoFundMe has been set up for the family. You can donate here.

MORE FLOOD COVERAGE:

• Shocking mid-Michigan flood pictures show ravaged roads, underwater houses, floating cars
• Gov. Whitmer on mid-Michigan floods: Devastation, possible legal action, peak flood level
• Investigating who is responsible for Edenville Dam failure that led to devastating floods
• Tim Pamplin tours mid-Michigan flood damage: ‘Roof of a house. No idea where rest of the house is’
• ‘2020 has been one blow after another’ -- Midland Farmers Market hit by flood day before reopening
• ‘Looked like Niagra Falls’ -- Dam that created Wixom Lake gives way, flooding mid-Michigan communities