Michigan task force set to make dam safety recommendations
The Michigan Dam Safety Task Force has been working on recommendations that would require Legislature approval to reduce the threat of dam failures after two dams failed in Midland County last May, forcing the evacuation of 10,000 people. The task force is asking for an annual $20 million revolving fund for the next 20 years to maintain and remove dams. To address hazard cleanup for when a dam owner fails to act, the task force is asking for a dam safety emergency fund. AdTask force chairman Evan Pratt said he values the sense of urgency the language provides, referring to dam safety issues in Michigan as a โticking time bomb.โ He said recommendations won't stop dams from failing, but the task force must reduce the frequency and severity of failures. โYou know, how many 300-year rains has Midland seen in the last five or six years?"
Review concludes Michiganโs Dam Safety Unit is understaffed, constrained by time and budget
LANSING, Mich. โ The Association of State Dam Safety Officials' (ASDSO) review of Michiganโs Dam Safety Unit was presented at a meeting of the Michigan Dam Safety Task Force. READ: Michigan department publishes dam failure reportIt concluded that Michiganโs program is understaffed and constrained by limited time, resources and budget. Officials said Michiganโs investments in dam safety have been lacking for decades, which increases the risk to public safety and the environment. Currently, Michiganโs program has two dam safety engineers and one supervisor with a third dam safety engineer to be hired soon. In the Fiscal Year 2021 there is funding for hiring two more dam safety engineers.
6 dams in SE Michigan considered โhigh hazard potential damsโ -- hereโs the list
It turns out six dams in the area are considered โhigh hazard potential." A high hazard dam might cause serious damage to homes, buildings, highways and lives, according to experts. The Pontiac Lake Dam is also considered a high hazard potential -- upsetting news to those who live and fish on the lake. According to EGLE, there are 85 high hazard potential dams in the state. The Defenders asked for copies of the inspection reports and lists of violations for the six high hazard potential dams in Southeast Michigan, but we are still waiting for that paperwork.
LIVE STREAM: Gov. Whitmer holds briefing on Midland County flooding response
MIDLAND, Mich. โ Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will offer an update on the stateโs response to the devastating floods in Midland County last month. Whitmer will provide a brief update alongside local officials on the stateโs response to the historic flooding in Mid-Michigan. Afterward, she will volunteer at the flood relief donation distribution center. The briefing is scheduled for 2:15 p.m. -- you can watch it live in the video player above.
Michigan National Guard aids residents impacted by Midland flooding while continuing COVID-19 response
LANSING, Mich. On Wednesday, May 20, Michigan National Guard units from Bay City, Saginaw, Port Huron, and other nearby communities responded to a request from Michigan State Police (MSP) to aid evacuating residents following massive flooding in the Midland area resulting from the breach of the Edenville and Sanford Dams. Working in cooperation with state and local incident commanders and county Emergency Operations Center personnel, Michigan National Guard members were dispatched to help evacuate 21 individuals, as well as six dogs and two cats threatened by the flooding. Guard members utilized equipment such as Light Medium Tactical Vehicles (LMTVs) that are capable of driving through high water for this mission. In addition to assisting community members, Michigan National Guard members recovered and removed books from a flooded library in Midland. This rapid response was accomplished while the Michigan National Guard remains heavily integrated into the State of Michigans fight against COVID-19.
Trump declares emergency for flooded Michigan communities
President Donald Trump, who was in Michigan to visit a Ford production plant, signed an emergency declaration authorizing the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate disaster relief efforts. In Midland, 61 people spent Wednesday night and Thursday morning in temporary shelters, according to city spokeswoman Selina Tisdale. That number โ mostly the elderly and families โ dwindled throughout Thursday as floodwaters receded and some residents were able to return home, she said. Much of the area remained underwater, including in Midland, the headquarters of Dow Chemical Co. And floodwaters continued to threaten downstream communities. โAnd my hatโs off to Midland.โOther area residents returned to their homes to find heavy damage.