Cheboygan — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and other state officials held a public briefing Thursday afternoon at the Cheboygan County courthouse on the status of the Cheboygan River’s beleaguered dam and widespread flooding across northern Michigan.
Whitmer and local officials expressed optimism that a dam failure in Cheboygan could be averted during an afternoon press conference.
“We’re just praying it doesn’t fail completely, because that’ll be a real problem (and) it’ll take a long time to recover from that,” said state Sen. John Damoose, R-Harbor Springs.
Damoose later added: “This is still a slow-motion disaster that’s still unfolding.”
Cheboygan County sheriff says there isn’t ‘mass concern’ over impact of a dam failure
Water levels at the Cheboygan Lock and Dam Complex have reached their highest point yet this week amid ongoing flooding across Michigan’s waterlogged northern Lower Peninsula.
At 12:30 p.m. Thursday, the water level at the Cheboygan dam stood 5.28 inches below the crest, the highest level recorded this week, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
The water level rose about half an inch in three hours Thursday morning, according to the DNR data.
Under the state’s Ready, Set, Go evacuation plan, if the water level reaches 6 inches below the top of the dam at a rate of 3 or more inches per day and is predicted to top the dam within 48 hours, the warning system would proceed to the “set” phase. This means residents in the potentially affected area should pack and prepare family, pets and vehicles for a potential evacuation.
Because the dam is located above the downtown area of Cheboygan, there are few residential condominiums and commercial buildings that could be impacted by a breach of the dam, Cheboygan County Sheriff Todd Ross said Thursday.
Just beyond downtown Cheboygan, the river spills into Lake Huron, reducing the impact on property and residents, Ross said.
“It’s very concerning, but mass concern — area-wise and the number of people affected — I would say no, we’re not expecting a huge loss of life or anything like that,” Ross said. “And the small number of people who should be concerned have been identified, notified, they’re well aware of what’s going on.”
As a result of flooding and severe weather, Whitmer has declared a state of emergency in the following counties: Alcona, Allegan, Alpena, Antrim, Arenac, Barry, Benzie, Charlevoix, Clare, Crawford, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Gratiot, Iosco, Kalkaska, Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Menominee, Missaukee, Montcalm, Montmorency, Newaygo, Oceana, Ogemaw, Oscoda, Osceola, Presque Isle, Roscommon, Saginaw, Shiawassee and Wexford.
Red Cross sets up relief shelters for Cheboygan County flood victims
One of four shelters set up by the American Red Cross was just north of Mullett Lake, which has experienced flooding of homes and properties along its sprawling shoreline.
Jennifer Beaujean was staying at the shelter, a Knights of Columbus hall, after water seeped into a friend’s home where she was living.
Beaujean, 44, of Cheboygan, was in the middle of moving to a new apartment when a storage facility that contains all her furniture also flooded.
She was so overwrought by the mishaps that she wasn’t able to fall asleep in the shelter Wednesday night. So she slept in her car.
“It’s a lot to deal with,” she said. “I’m just trying to tread water.”
Sally Ellis of Cheboygan also fled to the shelter after her home on the lake was submerged by the encroaching water.
She said she resisted leaving her home until the situation became untenable. So she took her ducks and chickens to the local humane society and brought herself to the shelter.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do,” she said. “I don’t know if it’s going to get worse or what.”
Ellis said she tries to keep her mind off her troubles by playing with Fido, her pit bull mix, but finds her thoughts returning to her wet home.
About 40 people are staying at the shelter, according to the American Red Cross. Among them have been the elderly with portable oxygen tanks.
The relief organization set up 100 cots with blankets and is providing meals and snacks throughout the day, said Tim Hayes, the Red Cross shelter manager.
People spent their time watching TV, playing cards, viewing their laptops and knitting, said Hayes and Beaujean. The media weren’t allowed inside.
“We’re here to keep the public warm and safe,” Hayes said. “We take care of any of their needs.”
Consumers Energy plans temporary power shutoff
Consumers Energy is planning a temporary power interruption today that will affect 5,003 customers served by two substations, the Jackson-based utility company said.
The temporary interruption is necessary, according to a statement, “to ensure crews can safely energize the dam’s generator to support continued operations.”
The exact time of the work is unknown, but it is expected to take place at some point Thursday. Customers may experience several brief, momentary interruptions while the work is underway, Consumers Energy said.
What’s been done to prevent a dam failure in Cheybogan
State workers and contractors spent Monday and Tuesday reinforcing the Cheboygan dam.
The once privately owned century-old dam in downtown Cheboygan has a long and complicated ownership history that has left part of it in the hands of the Michigan DNR.
State environmental and emergency management officials have taken a number of measures to prevent the dam from being breached, including adding numerous pumps to divert water, placing giant sandbags around the earthen base, installing an aqua dam along the top of the structure and removing floodgates with a crane.
Some businesses in downtown Cheboygan have barricaded their entrances with sandbags in anticipation of flood waters rushing into the city’s central business district.
fdonnelly@detroitnews.com
clivengood@detroitnews.com
Cheboygan Daily Tribune Managing Editor Jillian Fellows contributed.
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: State lawmaker warns of ‘slow-moving disaster’ at Cheboygan dam
Reporting by Francis X. Donnelly and Chad Livengood, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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