LANSING, Mich. — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency tonight for Midland County after the Edenville and Sanford dams were breached.
“If you have not evacuated the area, do so now and get somewhere safe,” Whitmer said.
“This is unlike anything we’ve seen in Midland County. If you have a family member or loved one who lives in another part of the state, go there now. If you don’t, go to one of the shelters that have opened across the county."
"I want to thank the emergency responders, Michigan National Guard members and the Michigan State Police on the ground helping residents evacuate. Stay safe, and take care of each other.”
Watch Whitmer's news conference Tuesday night on the state of emergency
Shelters have opened across Midland County and are available to residents "who need a place to go."
Shelters will remain open until further notice at several locations:
— Midland High School at 1301 Eastlawn
— Meridian Junior High School at 3475 N. Meridian Rd.
— Bullock Creek High School at 1420 S. Badour
— West Midland Family Center at 4011 W Isabella.
More information on shelters, road closures and updates is available at Midland911.org.
A number of street closures remain in effect throughout Midland County and the city of Midland.
Residents are advised to obey all road closure signs and stay clear of standing water, flooded areas and floating debris. Residents should not attempt to drive or walk through any standing water, and they should take extra precaution where electrical items might be submerged.
“We have remained engaged with Midland County officials as the situation has progressed,” said Capt. Kevin Sweeney, deputy state director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
“We will continue to partner with the county to ensure they receive the needed resources to respond and recover from this incident.”
