The Tittabawassee River at Midland, Michigan, will fluctuate around 35 feet before dropping around midnight, according to a new forecast. The river set a new record this morning, surpassing 33.89 feet, which was the previous record set in 1986.
Our live coverage of the flooding in Michigan has ended for the day. Read up on the latest news here.
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Forecast indicates that Michigan's Tittabawassee River will no longer crest
From CNN’s Judson Jones
According to a forecast by the National Weather Service in Detroit, the Tittabawassee River in Michigan is expected to fluctuate around 35 feet for the next several hours before starting to drop around midnight.
A previous forecast predicted that the river could crest at 38 feet Wednesday.
The river had already surpassed the previous record of 33.89 feet, which was set during a major flood in the city in 1986.
At that height alone, the river will be flooding many homes, the NWS previously said.
Some context: The last NWS observation was 34.83 feet at 4:30 p.m. ET and has been near this level for the past few hours.
At one point, the river hit 35.05 feet around 12:30 p.m., which may have been the crest.
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Chemical plant in Midland reports no threats to residents
From CNN’s Ganesh Setty
The Dow Chemical Company, headquartered in Midland, Michigan, released an updated statement saying that while there were confirmed flood waters that mixed with an on-site pond used for storm water, brine system and groundwater remediation – the material from the pond commingling with flood waters “does not create any threat to residents or environmental damage.”
The company also said there have been no reported product releases as a result of the flooding, following the two dam failures.
In an earlier statement released this morning, the company said that at approximately 10 a.m. ET, it was confirmed that there were flood waters “commingling with on-site containment ponds.”
Read the updated statement from The Dow Chemical Company:
Downtown Midland, a city of about 41,000 people downstream of the dams that failed, could eventually be “under approximately 9 feet of water” on Wednesday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said.
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Water expected to flood an additional 3 feet, Midland officials say
From CNN's Alec Snyder
Midland’s city manager Brad Kaye said in a news conference that he expects the flooding’s peak to occur at 9 p.m. ET today, when water will have flooded an additional 3 feet.
He said properties closest to the breached dam could be entirely underwater.
Kaye urged citizens to prepare and not “take it easy at this point in time” because the city is yet to reach the flood’s peak.
He said water remains clean, but the sewer system is at risk. Four sewer pumping stations have been submerged and consequently shut down so far. There are also power outages.
It is not clear what kind of damage the dam has sustained because it remains underwater, Kaye said.
He said the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library, which had $1 million in damages due to a 2017 flood, has been flooded again. The first floor is completely flooded and materials are being removed.
The Chairman of the Board of Commissioners for Midland County, Mark Bone, referred to the flooding as a 500-year flood and said there are about 500 people staying at the five shelters across the county.
The Tittabawassee River is forecast to crest 38 feet at 8 p.m. ET today.
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Officials are giving health screenings and distributing masks at Midland shelters
From CNN's Jason Hanna, Miguel Marquez and Christina Maxouris
Workers are checking evacuees’ temperatures and handing out masks to them because of the pandemic, Midland spokesperson Selina Crosby Tisdale said Wednesday.
Workers also are trying to space out the evacuees throughout the shelters, hoping to reduce the chances that anyone who might be carrying the virus spreads it to others.
Evacuees should expect to stay away from their homes for days, Tisdale said.
Here are the shelters that will remain open until further notice in Midland County:
Midland High School at 1301 Eastlawn Dr.
Meridian Junior High School at 3475 N. Meridian Road
Bullock Creek High School at 1420 S. Badour Road
West Midland Family Center at 4011 W. Isabella Road
With the coronavirus pandemic months underway, officials in the county are juggling two public safety crises at once.
The flood disaster is one of the first to test how local, state and federal response efforts can handle the dual challenge.
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Here's what Michigan's flooding looks like from above
Michigan State Police Aviation shared images on their twitter account of flooding above Midland County.
Parts of Midland and surrounding areas were flooded this morning after water breached the Edenville and Sanford dams — which normally contain the Tittabawassee River to create two separate lakes.
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No reported casualties due to Midland flooding, Michigan governor says
From CNN's Elizabeth Joseph
There are no reports of casualties as a result of flooding in Midland, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer told reporters today.
She said the state has been in touch with the federal government and will formally ask the Federal Emergency Management Agency for support.
The governor also urged residents to keep following evacuation orders in the impacted areas.
The governor noted that the water level from the flooding is expected to peak at 8 p.m. tonight in Midland.
She said her administration is “going to pursue every line of legal recourse” when it comes to the dam failures. “This incredible damage requires that we hold people responsible,” Whitmer added.
The governor said the state is trying to understand what led to the dam breaches.
“This was a known problem for a while and that’s why it’s important that we do our due diligence and take action,” Whitmer said.
The Tittabawassee River breached the Edenville and Sanford dams north of Midland on Tuesday evening after days of heavy rain.
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Here's which areas of Michigan could flood because of dam failures
From CNN's Judson Jones
The map below illustrates where flooding could occur as a result of dam failures along Michigan’s Tittabawassee River. The city of Midland, located along the river, urged residents within the shaded areas to evacuate.
Flooding affecting "many state roads" in Michigan's lower peninsula
Michigan’s Department of Transportation in a tweet urged residents to check the state’s “Mi Drive” page before heading out into the streets, as several major state roads have been impacted by flooding.
Downtown in Midland, a city of about 41,000 people downstream of the dams, could eventually be “under approximately 9 feet of water,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said last night.
Earlier this morning, Midland County Road Commission said “every bridge” crossing the Tittabawassee River is closed. The river is forecast to crest to 38 feet at 8 p.m. ET today.
The commission urged residents to not “attempt to use roadways that are underwater.”
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All units at chemical plant in Midland "safely shutdown"
From CNN’s Ganesh Setty
The Dow Chemical Company, headquartered in Midland, Michigan, said in a statement that the plant’s emergency operations are “fully activated” and the company has implemented its flood preparedness plan.
At approximately 10 a.m. ET, the company said, it was confirmed that there were flood waters “commingling with on-site containment ponds.” The company said it partnered with the US Coast Guard to activate emergency plans.
Dow added that “only essential staff are onsite to monitor and manage the situation with no reported employee injuries.”
Downtown Midland, a city of about 41,000 people downstream of the dams that failed, could eventually be “under approximately 9 feet of water” on Wednesday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said.
Here is the full statement from Dow Chemical Company:
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Trump tweets on Michigan flooding hours after threatening to withhold funding from the state
From CNN's Jason Hoffman and Adam Levy
President Trump tweeted that his team is “closely monitoring the flooding in Central Michigan.” A rain-swollen river has flooded fields and streets in parts of mid-Michigan after breaching two dams, forcing evacuation orders for thousands.
Trump added in his tweet that “Our brave First Responders are once again stepping up to serve their fellow citizens, THANK YOU!”
Earlier today, the President slammed Michigan in a tweet over vote-by-mail applications and said he was considering withholding funding from the state if they went forward.
Some context: Yesterday, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced all registered voters would receive vote-by-mail ballot applications. Voters can select on the application to receive an absentee ballot for the August state primary, November general election or both upcoming elections this year. They can also ask to receive a mail ballot in all future elections.
Benson responded to Trump in a tweet this morning, noting that the state is sending “applications, not ballots.”
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This is what the flooding looks like from the ground
From CNN's Rob Frehse, Kristina Sgueglia, Jason Hanna, Miguel Marquez and Christina Maxouris
Downtown Midland, a Michigan city of about 41,000 people downstream of the dams that failed, could eventually be “under approximately 9 feet of water” on Wednesday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said.
A rain-swollen river has flooded fields and streets in parts of mid-Michigan after breaching two dams, forcing evacuation orders for thousands amid a coronavirus pandemic that’s posing safety challenges Wednesday for officials trying to provide shelter.
The Tittabawassee River breached the Edenville and Sanford dams north of Midland on Tuesday evening after days of heavy rain.
By this morning, fields and roads in Midland County were virtual lakes, lapping up against businesses and homes.
Here’s what it looks like on the ground in Midland:
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National Guard helping with evacuations around the failed dams
From CNN's Rob Frehse
The Michigan National Guard was activated, and has a special unit out of Fort Custer to help with evacuations and emergency operations in the area, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced yesterday after two dams in the area failed.
The Red Cross is also in the area to assist, Whitmer said.
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Michigan officials juggle evacuating thousands from flooding threat and containing coronavirus
CNN's Rob Frehse, Kristina Sgueglia and Christina Maxouris
About 3,500 homes and 10,000 people have so far been affected by the evacuation notices in mid-Michigan ordered after two dams failed, Mark Bone, chair of the Midland County Board of Commissioners, said he believes.
No deaths or injuries have been reported, he said.
The evacuations come in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic. Teams are trying to screen people arriving at the shelters, Bone said, and emergency personnel have plenty of personal protective equipment and are wearing masks.
Masks are available for everyone going into the shelters, he said.
“Please, to the best of your ability, continue to wear a face covering when you go to a shelter or go stay with a friend or relative,” Whitmer added.
The Michigan Army National Guard is on site, with 100 soldiers doing inspections around the area, Whitmer said.
MidMichigan Medical Center in Midland said it was not evacuating.
The hospital said it has made improvements to protect the hospital since the flood of 1986, which include a FEMA-approved flood wall located on medical center property and generators built above the flood plain.
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Michigan governor: "This is unlike anything we've seen"
From CNN's Rob Frehse
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency for Midland County after two dams failed Tuesday, according to her office.
Residents should “seek higher ground” as far east and west of the Tittabawassee River as possible, according to the city of Midland’s website.
“In the next 12 to 15 hours, downtown Midland could be under approximately nine feet of water,” Whitmer said in a news conference. “We are anticipating a historic high water level.”
Whitmer highlighted several of those shelters for residents who need a place to go. They are…
Midland High School at 1301 Eastlawn
Meridian Junior High School at 3475 N. Meridian Road
Bullock Creek High School at 1420 S. Badour
and the West Midland Family Center at 4011 W Isabella
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Michigan's Tittabawassee River forecast to crest at 38 feet this evening
From CNN's Monica Garrett
The Tittabawassee River at Midland, Michigan, is forecast to crest 38 feet at 8 p.m. ET today, according to the National Weather Service.
This forecast crest is about 12 hours later than forecasters initially thought.
The river continues to rise quickly. As of 7:30 a.m. ET, the river at Midland had reached a height of 34.49 feet.
Residents should “seek higher ground” as far east and west of the Tittabawassee River as possible, according to the city of Midland’s website.
New record: The river has set a new record this morning, surpassing 33.89 feet which was the previous record set on September 13, 1986. The river height is currently 33.97 feet and rising quickly.
State of emergency: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency last night for Midland County after both the Edenville and Sanford dams breached and urged immediate evacuations.
