WEST OLIVE, MI (WHTC-AM/FM, Feb. 16, 2022) – Spring is nearly five weeks away on the calendar, but an annual spring scourge is coming early to Ottawa County.
County Emergency Manager Lou Hunt issued the following statement on Wednesday afternoon: “The Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Management and the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids are monitoring the Grand River as water levels are expected to rise due to forecasted rainfall and snow/ice melt from warming temperatures. Although predicted water level rises are not expected to create significant river flooding at this time, these conditions can cause ice jams and unpredictable rises in water levels. Rising water levels (and warm temperatures) can cause some of the ice to break up and travel until potentially impeded by an obstruction such as a bridge or a constricted bend in the river. Large quantities of ice that cannot continue downstream can create jams that block the flow of water from upriver and result in rapid flooding.
“For individuals who live next to or near the river, water levels due to ice jams can rise so quickly that the time to react is limited. If your home could be affected by the Grand River, please consider ways that you can prepare beforehand for a quick departure from your home, as well as limiting property losses. Residents along the river are advised to take precautionary measures for their property such as raising items off of the ground level. Having a transportation resource in the event of evacuation is important, as well as having a “go bag” of clothing, extra medications, and a charger for mobile electronic devices. If residents experience flooding in their homes they are advised not to enter an area with standing water where there are electrical appliances or wires/outlets. In addition, it is important to remember that ice on rivers/streams is never safe to traverse. Bodies of water connected to rivers and streams can also be dangerous, especially when those conditions are expected to change.
“The Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Management will continue to monitor the river throughout the weekend and beyond. If you recognize an emergency, please contact 911.”
The Van Lopik neighboorhood opposite Crockery Creek along the Robinson Township riverbank has had more than its share of flooding from ice jams over the years.
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