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Newaygo Co. Residents Continue to Contend With Flooding

Posted at 9:11 PM, Apr 15, 2014
and last updated 2014-04-15 21:12:12-04

NEWAYGO COUNTY, Mich. (April 15, 2014) — It’s flooding people who live along the Muskegon River in Newaygo County say they haven’t seen in years.

Joe and Brenda Payton, who live near Maple Island in Bridgeton Township, say they expect to come back to more than a foot of water in their home.

The Paytons even say residents who haven’t seen flooding in their homes in recent years are seeing it this time around.

Right now, they’re staying in a camper on higher ground, learning to prepare for the worst after having been through a few floods.

They say despite the havoc Mother Nature can cause, living by the river has its perks, including the sense of community, especially during times like this.

One neighbor who chose not to evacuate has been helping others who need anything, even assisting one in getting out of their home after things became worse than they expected Tuesday morning.

Newaygo County Emergency Services says all the dams in the county are still operating as they’re designed too.

By late afternoon hydrologist technicians were able to fix the automated gauge near the Croton Dam; late Monday into Tuesday it started reading a sharp drop in river levels but officials knew the water was still rising.

Newaygo County Emergency Services says it’s predicted the river will crest tomorrow; leaving people like Payton’s left to wonder just how much damage was done.