MECOSTA — Following a flood warning issued Tuesday by the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids for northern Mecosta County, the Mecosta Department of Emergency Services reports no major flooding.
The area that experienced heavy rains was centered around northeastern Newaygo County and the northwestern portion of Mecosta county. The storm was expected to bring around 5 inches of rain, but occurred in an area where there is not usually major flooding.
Scott Schroeder, Mecosta County Emergency Management Coordinator, said the only area that raised any minor concerns for flooding was Paris Creek in Mecosta County which passes around the township hall and connects to the Muskegon river.
“I received no major calls regarding flooding in the area,” Schroeder said. “The creek that we saw some concern about doesn’t typically flood to the point where it would endanger any structures or cause major damage.
"From the reports we got, only 3 to 4 1/2 inches fell in the Hawkins area in Newaygo before they issued the flood warning, and at the time they were still expecting 1 to 2 more inches, which I don’t think we ended up getting in that same area because the storm moved on.”
The severity of flood potential in Mecosta County depends largely on the location of a storm and what kind of water runoff could potentially occur there. Occasionally, the National weather Service will issue “areal” flood warnings, which means there is the potential for flooding over a large area. The word "areal" is the adjective version of the noun "area.” This type of warning would be issued to a larger city like Big Rapids, which has water runoff systems that could overflow with heavy rains.
Schroeder said the most common flooding occurs during the springtime in houses when water runs down hills into basements.
“People get flooded basements when they don’t normally have flooding occur,” Schroeder said. “The water will run down hills and into ponds and yards, but the warning last evening was issued over a concern for the creek, not of water runoff near homes.
"We don’t usually see a lot of damage to property from summer flooding unless it’s a whole bunch of rain in a short amount of time, but occasionally you’ll see roads and culverts washed out from heavy rain.”
One of the other concerns in the county regarding flooding is the Chippewa River south of Barryton. The wintertime is one of the worst times for flooding due to ice jams in dams and rivers that cause them to overflow.
Schroeder said the Muskegon River doesn’t usually see flooding in the summertime due to the dam that helps regulate its flow.
“The dam along that river helps control the level and flow of the Muskegon,” Schroeder said. “Usually the danger for flooding on the river is wintertime, but during this time of year its not usually a danger.”
PREPARING FOR FLOODS
Typically when flooding occurs, the Emergency Services dispatch would begin receiving calls and would work with other local law enforcement and organizations to address where the flooding is occurring.
The Mecosta Emergency Services Department utilizes an emergency alert system called Nixle to send out messages to residents in the county. The system can be used to send out emergency alerts, send in tips on storms and emergency situations, and updates on weather.
Users can enter their ZIP code into the Nixle website to receive up-to-date information on emergency updates and weather alerts in their area from local emergency organizations. Individuals can also sign up for text alerts through the service, and create a profile on the Nixle website to customize their alerts. Users can text their ZIP code to 888777 to receive mobile alerts; users in Mecosta County? can text MecostaEMD to the same number.
“Our first concern with flooding is finding out if there is a threat to people, and if we need to evacuate individuals in certain areas,” Schroeder said. “Life safety is the first priority, and then property conservation, if it’s even possible, which unfortunately with major flooding oftentimes it’s not. Generally, most people that live in areas that flood know that they live in these areas and are often prepared with plans if flooding were to occur.
“The last major flood in Big Rapids that I can remember was in 1986, and a lot of people saw damage to their houses and property that year because of the flooding. But we haven’t seen flooding like that in years in the area,” he added.
Schroeder said one of the best ways to be prepared for major weather events like flooding is to keep up to date on the weather patterns in your area, especially if you live somewhere that sees heavy rain often or that is susceptible to flooding. He also encouraged the use of alert systems like Nixle, as they can alert users faster about individual emergency or weather threats directly on their mobile devices.
Another good way to prepare for emergency weather events, is to create emergency kit for yourself and others in your family so that you are always ready for these situations.
When creating a safety preparedness kit, some things to include:
• Water with one gallon per person per day for drinking and sanitation;
• At least a three-day supply of nonperishable food with a can opener for canned food;
• Battery-powered radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both;
• A flashlight and extra batteries;
• A first aid kit;
• A whistle to signal for help;
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation;
• Plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place; and
• A wrench or pliers to turn off utilities,
For more information on the Nixle app and how to sign up for alerts, visit www.nixle.com and enter your ZIP code for specific information on your area and any current emergency warnings.
The Mecosta County Emergency Services Department can be reached by phone through Scott Schroeder at 231-592-9484. The services building is on the south end of Big Rapids next to Pizza Hut Restaurant, and office hours are Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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Mecosta County reports no major flooding after heavy rains - The Pioneer
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