Flooding has submerged Midland homes following a Tuesday dam collapse that forced widespread evacuations in the area of the Tittibawassee River.
NEW VIDEO: Aerial footage shows level of flood damage in Mid-Michigan after dams breached: https://t.co/ZM0HKpYzcs pic.twitter.com/P0QNbfucwO
— Local 4 WDIV Detroit (@Local4News) May 20, 2020
A state of emergency is declared and the National Guard is on scene. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who surveyed the damage by air Wednesday, called it "devastating."
No deaths have been reported.
At an afternoon news conference, Whitmer said she plans to seek aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Water is expected to rise until around 8 p.m., cresting at 38 feet deep -- 14 feet above flood stage.
► Update: It reached just over 35 feet around 5 p.m., according to the Midland County Emergency Management agency.
President Donald Trump tweeted that he's monitoring the situation and had sent "our best Military & @FEMA Teams, already there."
We have sent our best Military & @FEMA Teams, already there. Governor must now “set you free” to help. Will be with you soon! https://t.co/cuG1YacPdx
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 20, 2020
More than 10,000 people have been evacuated in what Whitmer described as a historic event within a historic event. She urged those who have to relocate to wear masks to avoid spreading coronavirus. Some residents sought refuge at high schools converted into makeshift shelters.
The flooding poses an additional environmental threat, as Dow Chemical is headquartered in Midland. The company on Wednesday told media floodwaters had reached the complex and were “commingling” with chemical waste ponds designed to hold runoff used on site. It said it was implementing its flood-preparedness plan and had shut down all operating units on site except those needed for "safely managing chemical containment."
Ominous statement from Dow Chemical on the current status of its sprawling chemical plant and headquarters complex in flooded Midland, Michigan.
— Chad Livengood (@ChadLivengood) May 20, 2020
"At approximately 10:00 a.m. Eastern it was confirmed there were flood waters commingling with on-site containment ponds." pic.twitter.com/VYn9LY1I9X
The floodwaters risk breaching levees protecting the Dow compound, the New York Times reported. Also of concern are nearby Superfund toxic clean-up sites.
This meant that, at the [Dow] site itself, flooding could reach storage tanks, potentially releasing chemicals onto farmland and residential areas that line the river downstream, [said Allen Burton, a professor of earth and environmental sciences at the University of Michigan.]
The Superfund cleanup sites are downriver from the century-old plant, which for decades had released chemicals into the nearby waterways. The concern downriver, Dr. Burton said, is that contaminated sediments on the river floor could be stirred up by the floodwaters, spreading pollution downstream and over the riverbanks.
The Edenville Dam broke Tuesday as the river swelled under heavy rainfall. Officials say the nearby Sanford Dam, meanwhile, is topping over.
Federal regulators revoked the license of the Edenville Dam two years ago over concerns it could not handle a large flood. Both dams are operated by Boyce Hydro Power, LLC.
This Tittabawassee River overview was posted Tuesday on social media by the Midland County Emergency Management Agency:
(Photo: Midland County government)
