GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.- The rising waters of the Grand River caused flooding in the parking garage and first floor of the Plaza Towers, causing mechanicals to shut off, according to authorities.
As a result, the diesel generator kicked on, overheated and began filling the building with smoke. All people inside were forced to evacuate nearby. A couple of people were treated for smoke inhalation, but no injuries.
The Grand Rapids Fire Department is on the scene, handling this situation.
Saturday evening, this statement was released following the incident:
“We evacuated our residents and tenants this morning out of an abundance of caution due to the rising waters of the Grand River and the potential impact of the flooding on the building. Our first priority is the security and safety of the people who live and work in Plaza Towers. We are working around the clock to assess the damage and develop a plan to get residents back into their homes and allow the hotel to resume serving its guests. We also have doubled our security in the building and Plaza Towers remains secure. We are proud of our staff and thankful to the city, police and fire professionals for helping us grapple with this historic and unprecedented event.”
-Paul Heule, President of Eenhoorn LLC
