Parts of mid-Michigan are experiencing flooding after weekend storms. Flooding from the Saginaw River Watershed has left several roads in the Saginaw Bay region closed.
Bryan Tilley, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said the Saginaw River is supposed to crest this evening.
"It's projected to fall below flood stage, not until Wednesday night, Thursday morning,” he said.
Tilley added that the Tittabawassee River is expected to fall below the flood stage tonight.
The city of Midland said on Facebook today that the Tittabawassee River “has begun to recede” as of Monday morning.
Flooding in the area has been a reoccurring issue. The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers is currently undergoing a multi-year general investigation on mitigating flood risks in the Midland area.
"While we're working on this long-term solution, we're trying to go hand in hand, also working on making infrastructure adjustments,” said Tony Stamas, CEO of the Midland Business Alliance, one of the organizations involved with the USACE study. “There's no one magic key, the more things we can do to build resiliency are going to help the people that live here, the businesses that are there here."
Some residents have reported having flooded basements due to the high water levels.
Jeremy MacDonald, an insurance agent with Mid-Michigan Agency, told WCMU people need to have separate flood insurance in addition to their home insurance to be protected in these situations. However, whether a person has the insurance or not there are still things that can be done.
"People need to make sure that their pump is running, working and has some sort of backup," MacDonald said. "If you don't have something like that, you have to find a way to get the water out and get anything down there dried out; fans, dehumidifiers, things of that nature."
Late last year, the Midland area received just under $20 million in flood mitigation in the last state budget, with $10 million going to the city and the other $9.8 million went to the Four Lakes Task Force and their efforts to repair dams that were destroyed by widespread flooding in 2020.
The National Weather Service says drivers should not attempt to pass barricades or drive though flooded waters.
