Like much of Michigan, it’s common for Midland County to flood. For one thing, Michigan is the only state to touch four out of the five great lakes, not to mention the abundance of rivers and low-lying areas. In fact, specific areas adjacent to the Tittabawassee and the Chippewa Rivers are known as Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA). SFHAs are land areas that are particularly susceptible to flooding and flood-related erosion. While flooding mostly occurs in the spring when the ground is already wet and rainfall flows into rivers, this can also happen in late autumn, which makes constant vigilance an absolute necessity.
When flooding happens in places where natural cover is no longer in existence and instead is replaced by buildings, roads, or parking lots, this is called urban flooding. It means that streets swell with water, which ends up flowing into basements due to having nowhere else to go. This happened back in 1996 from a flash flood in Midland that damaged about 1,400 houses.
Special Flood Hazard Areas in Midland
Knowing whether your property is within a SFHA is important for several reasons. Of course, it becomes a clear indication that you should take extra steps to avoid flood disasters. But your ability to remodel or add new structures may be hindered by building permit requirements. And even though most areas don’t need permits for grading or filling land, in these areas either activity could be restricted or prohibited, making it critical to know what is safe to do on your land. These permits come from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and Soil Erosion Sedimentation Control (SESC).
Also, if a flood or other disaster leads to restoration needs, there are restrictions on reconstruction efforts to keep insurance claim substantiality. Homeowner’s policies do not cover flood damage, which is why it’s important to talk with your insurance agent and consider purchasing a separate flood insurance policy. Even if you’re not within a SFHA, the City of Midland is a part of the National Flood Insurance Program, and flood insurance is supported by the federal government, making it available to everyone.
Difference Between Flood Watch and Flood Warning
A flood watch means that weather conditions in the area are prime to create a flood, which means you should be on the lookout and prepared just in case. A flood warning means that the flood is imminent or already in progress. The early warning from a flood watch can make a massive difference in preventing damage from occurring on the property. In particularly susceptible areas, this can provide enough time to move belongings, pets, etc. to higher ground. Enough notice might even give time for harvesting crops to avoid spoils.
How to Protect Your Home from Floods
Behind fires, floods are among the most common natural disaster, whether they’re from intense rain, heavy thunderstorms, or snow melt.
Items that you should keep on hand in an easily accessible location in case of a flood include:
- Sandbags
- Plywood
- Plastic sheeting
- Lumber
- First aid supplies
- Non-perishable foods
- Portable radio
- Emergency cooking equipment
- Flashlights in working order
Any food that you store should be easy to prepare, requiring minimal to no cooking in case of power outages. If you’re outside, do not attempt to cross flowing water by walking or driving – it can be difficult to gauge the depth, not to mention any hazardous items that have been pulled into the water.
What to Do After a Flood
If you’ve been through the flood and are now trying to recover, there are things you can do (and not do) to keep yourself and your family safe such as:
- Boil drinking water before using it for anything
- Do not use or consume any food that encountered flood waters
- Do not use electrical equipment until it has been dried and inspected
- Tune into broadcasting networks to stay updated with weather and shelter information
Keep in mind that flood waters can quickly become contaminated. Even if it initially came from a clean source, flood water can pull in contaminants and has even been known to use enough power to pop lids off septic tanks and cause sewer seepage. The Midland area can access radio updates on NOAA Weather Radio, Nixle, midland911.org, and MGTV Channel 188. And don’t forget about newspapers – they might be more of a dated option, but if there’s no power or way to access live updates, they will help.
