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Photos: Area Flooding
11:00AM – Road closures in Ottawa County:
Road Closures in Ottawa County
Ottawa County— The Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office and the Ottawa County Road Commission are reminding residents to NEVER drive on roads covered in water. The following roads are water covered and should be avoided:
Grand Haven District
104th South of Wilson
Taft North of 104th
Old 16 East of 112th (Camel Back Bridge)
90th South of Leonard
26th & Winans (1/2 RD closed)
Johnson at 16th
Wilson West -68th (culvert collapse)
24th Ave. under I-96
Linden Dr. –Old M-45
Coolidge between 24th & 16th
North Holland District
72nd at Business Loop 196 Pending Closure
Ottawa Beach Rd. by Ottawa Beach Inn
Business Loop I-96 at 100th Turnback (wet)
84th South of Adams
Felch between 72nd & 80th
104th South of Adams to Mason
City of Zeeland – 104th by Chicago Dr. & M-121
120th South of Riley
US 31 at New Holland
112th & Lakewood
76th & Bingham
Adams & 80th
Hudsonville District
M-121 at 48th
48th North of New Holland
12th North of Taylor
28th between Baldwin & Bauer
Quincy between 8th & Kenowa (pending closure)
Baldwin between 54th & 56th
40th & New Holland
6035 Barry
Roads not listed may become flooded so it is critical to remember to NEVER drive on roads covered in water. Roads may be washed out under the waters and the depth of the water is impossible to assess.
The Ottawa County Emergency Management Division is working closely with the Ottawa County Road Commission and will update conditions as they become available.
If there is an immediate threat for life safety they should call 9-1-1.
10:56AM – Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Allegan, Van Buren and Berrien Counties until 11:45am.
10:43AM – The city of Grand Rapids is currently experiencing internet outages including email services and spotty phone service because of the storms. The www.grcity.is website is also down. 911 service is still working. The city is hoping to have everything back to normal by 1:00pm.
10:38AM – Shed struck by lightning in 2800 block of Austin Street, Norton Shores.
10:36AM – Brentwood Trailer Park off 60th and Division.
10:31AM – Mandatory evacuation for a mobile park at 54th and Clyde Park because of the flooding. Two more boats have been brought in to help stranded residents on Averill Avenue. Emergency crews are staging at Ideal Park near Buck Creek.
10:28AM – Here’s a closer look at the Tornado Watch in effect… http://fox17online.com/2013/04/18/tornado-watch-in-effect-along-indiana-border/#axzz2QXp751yu
10:26AM – A picture taken from downtown Hopkins in Allegan County.
10:23AM – In the Wyoming neighborhood off 54th Street where residents are stranded and rescue boats are being brought in, the water level has gone up another 6 inches in the last 15 minutes.
10:20AM – From Ottawa County – sandbags available
Ottawa County— The Ottawa County Emergency Management Division has free sandbags available to residents via township offices. Residents are urged to call in the local township in advance to be certain there are bags available. [Sandbags may be en route] It is important to only fill sandbags just over half full. This way the sand can settle to fill voids in the wall once it is built. Along with placing sandbags where water is expected to rise quickly, residents are advised to take precautionary measures such as raising items off of the ground level. Many areas of Ottawa County are experiencing significant flooding including road washouts. County officials will report on these locations as soon as they are confirmed. If residents experience flooding in their homes they are advised not to enter an area with standing water where there are electrical appliances such as lamps or washing machines, be it in their basement or elsewhere. Any property damage due to flooding should be reported to residents’ local jurisdiction (town hall). If there is an immediate threat for life safety they should call 9-1-1.
10:18AM- From the City of Walker…
The City of Walker is experiencing extensive flooding related to the current rainfall event and the downstream flooding associated with the rising elevation of the Grand River. We are currently closing down several roads to prevent vehicles from attempting to cross these flooded areas. These roads are:
North Park Street west from West River Drive to Monroe Avenue
Turner Avenue between West River Drive and the southbound US 131 ramps
Mill Creek Avenue between North Park Street and West River Drive
Veterans Memorial Drive between Maynard and Butterworth.
Riverbend Drive between Butterworth Drive and Veteran’s Memorial Drive.
We expect these road closures to remain in effect for the next several days. As the Grand River elevation rises the impact on these roads could increase.
Many other local roads may be closed intermittently as the local drainage systems work to handle current rainfall. We expect these other closures to be lifted as localized area flooding subsides.
10:15AM- The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Watch for parts of West Michigan: Allegan, Barry, Calhoun, Ionia, Isabella, Kalamazoo, Kent, Mecosta, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Ottawa, Van Buren until 6pm.
10:13AM- American Red Cross is working to setup a shelter. Here is the news release:
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., April 18, 2013 – The Red Cross of West Michigan is working to open a shelter in Kent County for those
who have been affected by flooding. The Red Cross plans to open the shelter at the Kentwood Activities Center located at 355 48th St. by 11:00 a.m. today. This shelter will help residents who have been forced out of their homes because of flooding by offering a safe and warm place to stay. The Red Cross is in communication with emergency management to see
where any additional shelters may be necessary.
10:00AM – There is a very strong current going across 54th Street in Wyoming. Emergency crews tell FOX 17 they are concerned the road could be washed out. The water has risen 3 feet in the last 15 minutes. They are evacuating surrounding homes. Georgetown Fire, Grand Rapids Fire and Wyoming Fire are on the scene with rescue boats.
9:50AM – Grand Rapids Fire Department is being asked to bring its rescue boats to between 54th and 56th Streets in Wyoming to help stranded residents. Water has stranded residents on Averill Avenue. Emergency crews are staging at Ideal Park near Buck Creek.
