Experts say the 2020 failure of two dams on a Michigan river was “foreseeable and preventable.”.

Experts say the 2020 failure of two dams on a Michigan river was “foreseeable and preventable.”.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is signing off on a plan to spend $4.8 billion on the state’s infrastructure, including roads and water pipes.

So many who lost so much in the mid-Michigan floods are still searching for help and answers -- and it may be a long time before they get either.

The Michigan Dam Safety Task Force has been working on recommendations that would require Legislature approval to reduce the threat of dam failures after two dams failed in Midland County last May, forcing the evacuation of 10,000 people. The task force is asking for an annual $20 million revolving fund for the next 20 years to maintain and remove dams. To address hazard cleanup for when a dam owner fails to act, the task force is asking for a dam safety emergency fund. AdTask force chairman Evan Pratt said he values the sense of urgency the language provides, referring to dam safety issues in Michigan as a “ticking time bomb.” He said recommendations won't stop dams from failing, but the task force must reduce the frequency and severity of failures. “You know, how many 300-year rains has Midland seen in the last five or six years?"

LANSING, Mich. – The Association of State Dam Safety Officials' (ASDSO) review of Michigan’s Dam Safety Unit was presented at a meeting of the Michigan Dam Safety Task Force. READ: Michigan department publishes dam failure reportIt concluded that Michigan’s program is understaffed and constrained by limited time, resources and budget. Officials said Michigan’s investments in dam safety have been lacking for decades, which increases the risk to public safety and the environment. Currently, Michigan’s program has two dam safety engineers and one supervisor with a third dam safety engineer to be hired soon. In the Fiscal Year 2021 there is funding for hiring two more dam safety engineers.

It turns out six dams in the area are considered “high hazard potential." A high hazard dam might cause serious damage to homes, buildings, highways and lives, according to experts. The Pontiac Lake Dam is also considered a high hazard potential -- upsetting news to those who live and fish on the lake. According to EGLE, there are 85 high hazard potential dams in the state. The Defenders asked for copies of the inspection reports and lists of violations for the six high hazard potential dams in Southeast Michigan, but we are still waiting for that paperwork.

MIDLAND, Mich. – Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will offer an update on the state’s response to the devastating floods in Midland County last month. Whitmer will provide a brief update alongside local officials on the state’s response to the historic flooding in Mid-Michigan. Afterward, she will volunteer at the flood relief donation distribution center. The briefing is scheduled for 2:15 p.m. -- you can watch it live in the video player above.

LANSING, Mich. On Wednesday, May 20, Michigan National Guard units from Bay City, Saginaw, Port Huron, and other nearby communities responded to a request from Michigan State Police (MSP) to aid evacuating residents following massive flooding in the Midland area resulting from the breach of the Edenville and Sanford Dams. Working in cooperation with state and local incident commanders and county Emergency Operations Center personnel, Michigan National Guard members were dispatched to help evacuate 21 individuals, as well as six dogs and two cats threatened by the flooding. Guard members utilized equipment such as Light Medium Tactical Vehicles (LMTVs) that are capable of driving through high water for this mission. In addition to assisting community members, Michigan National Guard members recovered and removed books from a flooded library in Midland. This rapid response was accomplished while the Michigan National Guard remains heavily integrated into the State of Michigans fight against COVID-19.

President Donald Trump, who was in Michigan to visit a Ford production plant, signed an emergency declaration authorizing the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate disaster relief efforts. In Midland, 61 people spent Wednesday night and Thursday morning in temporary shelters, according to city spokeswoman Selina Tisdale. That number — mostly the elderly and families — dwindled throughout Thursday as floodwaters receded and some residents were able to return home, she said. Much of the area remained underwater, including in Midland, the headquarters of Dow Chemical Co. And floodwaters continued to threaten downstream communities. “And my hat’s off to Midland.”Other area residents returned to their homes to find heavy damage.

A State of Emergency was declared for Midland County after two dams failed. If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566.