Newaygo County has declared a state of emergency amid extreme flooding warnings. Residents are urged to arrange for potential evacuation.
NEWAYGO COUNTY, Mich. — Newaygo County Emergency Services (NCES) has issued a State of Emergency as a flood warning continues for the Muskegon River and widespread flooding points proceed throughout the county.
All public river entry websites alongside the Muskegon River beneath Croton are closed attributable to unsafe situations, public river entry websites alongside the White River close to the Hesperia Dam are additionally closed.
In addition to the meals warning for the entire county, areas close to the White River beneath the Hesperia Dam are under a flash flood watch.
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO PREPARE:
First of all, in case you are in any of the areas under a watch or warning, it is advisable to be ready to evacuate. NCES stated the state of affairs is creating quickly, and residents ought to hold an eye fixed out for quickly altering water ranges. Residents throughout the areas could also be directed to evacuate. However, should you really feel threatened by rising waters, DO NOT WAIT for an evacuation directive.
WHAT IS HAPPENING ALONG THE WHITE RIVER?
According to NCES, native officers are reporting a quickly rising water degree on the White River in Hesperia. They stated water is presently flowing over the spillway of the Hesperia Dam and should quickly start overtopping the dam itself. They additionally reported that water is already impacting the construction of the Division Street bridge upstream of the dam.
WHAT TO EXPECT ALONG THE WHITE RIVER?
Residents on this space ought to monitor forecasts and be ready to take motion in case the flash flood watch is upgraded to a warning. NCES stated dam security consultants with state and native emergency providers are monitoring the dam and can challenge a public assertion as situations warrant. If you reside on this space it’s best to PLAN NOW so you’ll be able to transfer shortly in case of an emergency. You can hold knowledgeable by listening to native radio and tv for statements and attainable warnings. Be certain to comply with the recommendation of public security officers.
HOW TO PREPARE FOR EVACUATION IN CASE OF EMERGENCY:
The following listing must be adopted ONLY IF YOU HAVE TIME, to be able to offer you and your private home one of the best probability of surviving a flood. In case of a right away emergency, PRIORITIZE YOUR LIFE and EVACUATE.
- Shut and lock all home windows and doorways
- Gather and elevate vital paperwork, belongings, furnishings, and different priceless gadgets together with photos, irreplaceable mementos, and different valuables.
- Check your emergency preparedness package and retailer provides so you’ll be able to seize them shortly if it is advisable to evacuate. This contains prescription drugs
- Prepare to unplug home equipment and switch off your important breaker in your houses electrical field if it is advisable to evacuate
- Gather up gadgets from the outside of the home and produce them inside (patio furnishings, youngsters’s toys, door mats, trash cans, grills, and many others.)
- Strap down propane tanks
- Prepare to show off propane tanks if it is advisable to evacuate
- Put your Emergency Supply Kit in your automobile
- Back your automotive into the driveway with automobile loaded and all doorways and home windows closed. Carry your automotive keys with you
- Don’t anticipate an evacuation directive should you really feel threatened
- Check on neighbors and ensure they’re getting ready to go away
- Locate your pets and hold them close by
- Check your emergency preparedness package on your pets and retailer provides so you’ll be able to seize them shortly if it is advisable to evacuate
- If it is advisable to evacuate, take your pets with you
- Turn Around, Don’t Drown
- Avoid strolling or driving by means of flood waters
- Do not drive over bridges which are over fast-moving floodwaters. Floodwaters can scour basis materials from across the footings and make the bridge unstable
- Just 6 inches of transferring water can knock you down, and one foot of transferring water can sweep your automobile away
- If there’s a probability of flash flooding, transfer instantly to increased floor
- If floodwaters rise round your automotive however the water is just not transferring, abandon the automotive and transfer to increased floor. Do not depart the automotive and enter transferring water
WHAT IS HAPPENING ALONG THE MUSKEGON RIVER?
NCES defined they use three streamgages to find out the river ranges. As of about 3 p.m. on Wednesday, they reported the next:
- MINOR FLOOD STAGE: USGS Croton Streamgage was at 10.45 toes with flows at 9,860 cubic toes per second. Flood stage is at 9.0 toes
- USGS Newaygo Streamgage was at 13.23 toes with flows at 8,900 cubic toes per second. Flood stage is at 11.0 toes
- USGS Bridgeton Streamgage was at 14.41 toes with flows at 7,870 cubic toes per second. Flood stage is at 13.0 toes
WHAT TO EXPECT ALONG THE MUSKEGON RIVER?
The Muskegon River is predicted to see MAJOR FLOODING, in keeping with NCES. River ranges are forecasted to crest on Friday, April 17 by means of Saturday, April 18.
NCES shared the next listing of what residents ought to put together for:
- Expect flooding situations just like if not slightly worse than the February 2018 Flood
- Expect energy to be disconnected to areas with flood inundation if river ranges attain over 11.0 Feet at Croton, 15.0 Feet at Newaygo, and 17.0 Feet at Bridgeton
- Expect Bridge Street Bridge within the City of Newaygo to be closed if river ranges attain over 14.0 Feet at Newaygo
- Expect Maple Island Bridge to be closed if river ranges rach over 17.0 Feet at Bridgeton
HERE IS THE RIVER FORECAST CENTER’S LATEST FORECAST FOR THE MUSKEGON RIVER:
The Muskegon River at Croton is predicted to crest Friday night (04/17/2026) at
- Moderate Flood Stage of 11.40 Feet at Croton (matching the 2018 Flood)
- Minor Flood Stage is at 9.0 Feet
- Moderate Flood Stage is at 11.0 Feet
- Major Flood Stage at 12.0 Feet with the closure of Bridge Street Bridge and Maple Island Bridge
The River beneath Newaygo is predicted to crest on Saturday, April 18th within the early morning hours at
- Major Flood Stage and setting a file of 16.60 Feet at Newaygo (earlier file was 15.1 Feet set on 02/21/2018)
- Minor Flood Stage is at 11.0 Feet
- Moderate Flood Stage is at 14.0 Feet
- Major Flood Stage is at 15.0 Feet
The River at Bridgeton is predicted to crest on Saturday, April 18th within the morning at
- Major Flood Stage and setting a file of 18.0 toes at Bridgeton (earlier file was 16.8 Feet set on 02/21/2018)
- Minor Flood Stage is at 13.0 Feet
- Moderate Flood Stage is at 16.0 Feet
- Major Flood Stage is at 17.0 Feet
You can examine present water ranges at water.noaa.gov/wfo/grr.
- Anticipate the next areas to be impacted by flood waters on the Muskegon River
- Leisure Land Subdivision in Bridgeton Township
- Sycamore Flats in Ashland Township
- one centesimal 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 within the City of Newaygo
The following roads are briefly closed attributable to washouts/water over the roadway as of three:00 p.m. Wednesday:
- Division Street Bridge (Maple Island Road) within the Village of Hesperia
- Lee Ave. south of Lake Dr. in Sheridan Township. Culvert failure
- Osborn Ave. south of thirty second St. in Dayton Township
- Ramshorn Dr. south of thirty second St. in Dayton Township
- Luce Ave. north of thirty second St. in Dayton/Sherman Township
- Comstock Ave. close to Adams St. in Denver Township
- ONLY CALL 9-1-1 TO REPORT EMERGENCIES! Emergency operators and cellphone traces are wanted to help this incident, please proceed to watch Nixle for updates or name 2-1-1 (not 9-1-1) for basic security info
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WILL BE RELEASED! Continue monitoring your radio, Nixle, and Newaygo ES’s Facebook Page for extra info
- THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION
Continuing Information Will Be Released Via NIXLE
Newaygo County Emergency Services is coordinating with Consumers Energy and the National Weather Service Grand Rapids Office to actively monitor the altering situations and talk info out to residences impacted by the rising floodwaters. As the state of affairs modifications, extra info shall be launched by the Newaygo County Emergency Operations Center using Nixle. Please go to nixle.com to register for alerts and consider emergency info for the place you reside.
