Although water levels are receding in much of the region, Emmet County Emergency Management reported on Tuesday, April 21 that high-risk areas along lakes and rivers continue to experience historic flood conditions and have not significantly improved.
According to the Tuesday update, portions of M-119 remain closed, along with other local roads that are experiencing varying conditions. The Pellston Regional Airport is also closed to commercial air traffic as runway conditions have not yet sufficiently improved to allow reopening.
Emmet County Emergency Management is urging all watercraft to stay off the Crooked River until further notice due to hazardous conditions. A request has also been submitted to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Coast Guard to temporarily close the Crooked River from Crooked Lake to Burt Lake to all recreational watercraft, with exceptions for emergency response vessels.
Cleanup support
Starting Thursday April 23, Emmet County residents can obtain Flood Debris Vouchers at the DPW Office, located at 200 Division St., Suite G76, in Petoskey. Each voucher allows disposal of up to 2 cubic yards of flood-related debris at the Emmet County Drop Off Center.
Residents should separate debris when possible. Materials brought to the transfer station must be flood-related, no household trash will be accepted as part of the voucher program.
A short survey and proof of residence is required to receive a voucher.
The Health Department of Northwest Michigan is also partnering with Disaster Relief at Work to provide free cleanup supply buckets for flood-affected residents in three of its counties.
“We are grateful to partner with county emergency managers and Disaster Relief at Work to bring essential cleanup supplies directly to our communities,” said HDNW Health Officer Shannon Klonowski in a statement. “We encourage residents of Antrim, Charlevoix and Emmet counties to take advantage of these resources as they begin the recovery process. Our priority is to support safe, healthy homes and to help our neighbors get back on their feet as quickly as possible.”
Each bucket includes cleaning items, such as dish soap, scrub brushes, garbage bags, all-purpose cleaner, laundry detergent, gloves, face masks and more. Availability is limited and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Only one bucket per household is allowed.
Antrim and Emmet bucket supplies are currently available. Charlevoix County buckets will not be available until Thursday.
Pick-up locations include:
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: High-risk flood areas remain in Emmet County, cleanup help available
Reporting by Jillian Fellows, The Petoskey News-Review / The Petoskey News-Review
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