State agencies are assisting Midland County residents during the flood emergency.
Midland city officials reported more than 11,000 residents were safely evacuated.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has about 20 conservation officers in the region to aid people for evacuation.
Lieutenant Jeremy Payne with the DNR Law Enforcement Division said officers are well-trained for water rescue.
"We’re pretty versatile in our response," Payne said. "We're able to help out the locals who might not have access to the waiters, throwboats, the boat and the training to be able to use those things properly."
Payne said the DNR has equipment like flat bottom boats and rescue disks to help while officers are in the Midland region.
"When you get up to these neighborhoods or roadways that are flooded out, typically that’s a little more shallow water," Payne said. "But the current that's going across that roadway or wherever it's at, might be pretty significant, where a person who’s not used to walking in water like that would have a difficult time."
In the interest of transparency, we note that the Department of Natural Resources is a financial supporter of WCMU.
