2013 Grand Rapids flood

Flood in the Grand Rapids metropolitan area in April 2013 May 2025 February 2015 2013 Grand Rapids flood 2013 Grand Rapids flood skyline.jpg Grand Rapids USGS River Gaging Station 1.jpg Grand Rapids USGS River Gaging Station 2.jpg center 280 2 Black 1 black 300px Top to bottom, left to right:A view of Grand Rapids, with the gaging station visible in the lower left corner of the image. A man beside the gaging station. A view of the gaging station facing the Plaza Towers, labeled "Waterfront Towers". 2013 04 12 – 2013 04 25 April 21, 2013 (crest) * Comstock Park, Michigan Grand Rapids, Michigan Grandville, Michigan None +$10 million Tunison John Flood Damage Report: $10.6 Million to Kent County Properties http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2013/05/flood_damage_report_106_millio.html February 28, 2015 MLive Grand Rapids, MI Booth Newspapers May 16, 2013 The 2013 Grand Rapids flood lasted from April 12 to 25, 2013, affecting multiple areas in the Grand Rapids metropolitan area. Tunison John Grand River Almost Back to Flood Stage in Downtown Grand Rapids http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2013/04/grand_river_almost_back_to_flo.html February 28, 2015 MLive Grand Rapids, MI Booth Newspapers April 25, 2013 Craig Kevin Rivers Run High as More Rain Lurks http://fox17online.com/2013/04/13/rivers-run-high-as-more-rain-lurks/ February 28, 2015 Grand Rapids, MI WXMI-TV April 13, 2013 Sudden heavy rainfall, saturation of the ground from rainwater and the flow of tributaries caused the Grand River to rise dramatically, with the river cresting at 21.85 ft m in Grand Rapids on April 21, 2013. Anderson Alisha Mich. City Declares Emergency as Flooding Continues https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/04/22/grand-rapids-flooding-state-emergency/2102883/ February 28, 2015 USA Today April 22, 2013 The flooding caused thousands of residents in the area to evacuate their homes. Grand River in West Michigan Receding After Floods http://archive.freep.com/article/20130424/NEWS06/304240140/Grand-River-west-Michigan-receding-after-floods February 28, 2015 Detroit Free Press April 24, 2013 Meteorology 250px|thumb|left|Grand River flood water settling near the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum with kayakers floating near light poles of a riverwalk. In April 2013, heavy rain throughout the Midwest caused severe flooding in the region. In a period between April 8 and 15, Grand Rapids received 3.50 in mm of rain, while the upriver community of Comstock Park received about 5.04 in mm of rainfall. Torregrossa Mark Michigan Weather Update: How Much Rain Did We Get in Total? http://www.mlive.com/weather/index.ssf/2013/04/michigan_weather_update_how_mu_2.html February 28, 2015 Grand Rapids, MI Booth Newspapers April 15, 2013 Within that period on April 13, the National Weather Service stated that floodwaters in Comstock Park rose from minor to moderate, with the flood stage beginning at 12 ft m and that day's level at 13.3 ft m. On April 17, Grand Rapids received about 0.83 in mm of rain. Rain Moving Out, Street Flooding Will Ease http://fox17online.com/2013/04/17/rain-moving-out-street-flooding-will-ease/ February 28, 2015 Grand Rapids, MI WXMI-TV April 17, 2013 Rainfall broke a 104-year-old record on April 18 with 9.1 in mm of rain falling by 9:30 a.m. EDT. McMillin Zane 104-Year-Old April Rainfall Record Shattered in Grand Rapids, with More Downpours Likely http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2013/04/april_rainfall_record_shattere.html February 28, 2015 MLive Grand Rapids, MI Booth Newspapers April 18, 2013 On April 21, in Comstock Park, the Grand River crested at 17.8 ft m, 5.8 ft m above the 12 ft m on flood level while in Grand Rapids, the river rose to 21.85 ft m, or 3.85 ft m above the 18 ft m on flood level. A storm deemed "catastrophic" that had the potential to drop 3 to 4 in mm of rain had also barely missed the Grand Rapids area on the day that the water crested in the Grand River. Vande Bunte Matt 2013 Flood: Experts Describe How Close Grand Rapids Was to Crippling Floodwall Breach http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2014/01/2013_flood_experts_describe_ho.html February 28, 2015 MLive Grand Rapids, MI Booth Newspapers January 5, 2014 Rain totals for the month of April were about 11.10 in mm. Record-Setting April Rainfall for Grand Rapids http://www.wzzm13.com/story/news/local/metro/2014/02/04/1598264/ February 28, 2015 Walker, MI WZZM-TV May 2, 2013 Impact right 320 border:none; ASTER image - Grand River near Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2007.jpg ASTER image of the Grand River on April 30, 2007 ASTER image - Grand River near Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2013.jpg ASTER image of the Grand River on April 30, 2013 On April 21, Mayor of Grand Rapids, George Heartwell, declared a state of emergency. Evacuations of homes were reported along with some reports about boat rescues from houses in the area. Davey Monica In Midwest, Drought Gives Way to Flood https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/26/us/in-midwest-drought-abruptly-gives-way-to-flood.html February 28, 2015 The New York Times April 25, 2013 In Kent County, about 700 people were evacuated while 1,000 people alone were evacuated from the Plaza Towers in downtown Grand Rapids. Some buildings in Grand Rapids near the riverfront had the Grand River's waterline go over their windows with some individuals able to see fish and ducks swim by through the windows. Massive Midwest Floods Send Fish, Ducks Swimming by Building's Above-Ground Windows http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/midwest-flooding-sends-fish-swimming-windows-article-1.1325586 February 28, 2015 Daily News New York April 23, 2013 Flood walls and bridges in Grand Rapids caused some increased flooding in cities up and downstream from the Grand River since they impeded the flow of the river, causing water to stand and rise. Wastewater treatment plants in Grand Rapids, Grandville and Wyoming had partially treated wastewater overflow from their facilities. Vande Butte Matt 429 Million Gallons: Grand Rapids Wastewater Overflow During Flood http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2013/04/429_million_gallons_grand_rapi.html February 28, 2015 MLive Grand Rapids, MI Booth Newspapers April 26, 2013 The Grand Rapids wastewater plant had about 429 e6USgal e9l of the partially treated water spill into the Grand River. Response thumb|right|Grand Rapids residents filling sand bags. The American Red Cross of West Michigan deployed to heavily affected neighborhoods in the area. They also opened multiple shelters for people who had to evacuate their homes due to the rising waters. Shelters were opened at the Kentwood Activities Center in Grand Rapids, Alpine Baptist Church in Comstock Park, and the First Baptist Church in Lowell. Shelters also opened in Ionia County at the Ionia Armory Community Center; Ottawa County at the Hudsonville Congregation United Church of Christ; and Newaygo County at the TrueNorth Community Services building.https://www.fox17online.com/2013/04/20/fox-17s-flood-resource-guide FOX 17's Flood Resource Guide April 20, 2013 During the floods, thousands of residents in the Grand Rapids area volunteered to fill over 100,000 sand bags that were to be used throughout the territory. Near the Grand Rapids wastewater facility, a 1.25 mi km on wall of sandbags were placed. Vande Bunte Matt Giant Wall of Flood Sand Bags Might Stay at Grand Rapids Wastewater Plant http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2013/04/what_to_do_with_sand_bags_berm.html February 28, 2015 MLive Grand Rapids, MI Booth Newspapers April 25, 2013 CSX Transportation also placed train cars full of salt on a 110-year-old trestle bridge that crossed the river near Wealthy Street in order to weigh down the bridge from the rising floodwaters below it. Aftermath The state of emergency declared by Mayor Heartwell lasted until May 24 in order to give more time for officials to gather information about the impact of the flooding. Vande Bunte Matt $5 Million Flood Damage Estimate in Grand Rapids: State of Emergency Extended http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2013/04/state_of_emergency_extended_in.html February 28, 2015 MLive Grand Rapids, MI Booth Newspapers April 30, 2013 Following the flooding, thousands of sandbags had to be removed with some possibly being stored for future use for other floods. Discussions were also held on whether to turn the wall of sandbags near the Grand Rapids wastewater facility into a permanent berm for future protection. In the spring of 2014, Grand Rapids and Walker started a $703,000 contract to install flap gates and to perform repairs to existing flood walls. Vande Bunte Matt $4.4 Million of Flood Protection in Grand Rapids Now, More Later http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2014/08/44_million_of_flood_protection.html February 28, 2015 MLive Grand Rapids, MI Booth Newspapers August 16, 2014 In August 2014, Grand Rapids also released plans to remove obstructions in the Grand River and to raise the berm near their wastewater plant. After initial claims by Grand Rapids officials that the flood walls in the city were adequate, in November 2014, city officials decided to look at ways to heighten flood walls due to factors involving Federal Emergency Management Agency, climate change and a proposed river restoration project. Vande Bunte Matt Why Grand Rapids Will Boost Floodwalls, How City Will Do It http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2014/11/grand_rapids_flood_walls.html February 28, 2015 MLive Grand Rapids, MI Booth Newspapers November 13, 2014 See also 2013 Midwest floods References 30em Grand Rapids flood Category:2013 in Michigan Category:Grand Rapids metropolitan area Category:Natural disasters in Michigan Grand Rapids flood Category:History of Grand Rapids, Michigan Category:Grand River (Michigan)