Heavy Rains Cause Chaos in Metro Detroit
A torrential down-pouring of rain has left residents throughout metropolitan Detroit struggling with widespread flooding Wednesday – threatening scores of homes and forcing raw sewage into local waterways. Dozens of motorists were left stranded on Detroit streets, roadways and local expressways as they tried to make their way around yesterday.
Many areas around metro Detroit have received over four inches of rain throughout the day Wednesday, adding to what has already been a very wet spring. The city of Detroit has received over four inches of rain during the day while surrounding towns and cities received at least three inches. The city of Ann Arbor reported that it has received over three inches, which has clogged sewer drains and forced the closing of several streets. So far this spring the metropolitan Detroit area has recorded over 13 inches of rainfall, making this the 5th wettest spring on record.
The National Weather Service issued numerous flood warnings for several areas located along the Rouge, Huron and Clinton Rivers. The Clinton River floods when it reaches 16 feet and it is expected to crest at over 19 feet today in Sterling Heights and Clinton Township. Officials have blocked off many roads in the area already because water is starting to flood over them. Residents living near the river are being told to prepare for possible forced evacuations.
Metro Detroit’s heavily traveled I-75 was turned into a big flooded “parking lot” on Wednesday as traffic backed up for several miles heading downtown from Oakland County. What should be a 40 minute drive from northwestern Detroit to Sterling Heights turned into a trip that took at least three times that long as cars crawled slowly along the heavily flooded expressway. The entire I-75 expressway leading out of Detroit was peppered with emergency vehicles and tow trucks during rush hour yesterday. Many homeowners have reported that they arrived at their Detroit area homes after work to discover several inches of water inside their basements.
In Highland Park, Michigan, residents report finding more than three feet of water rising inside their homes due to the heavy downpours that flooded streets there. Highland Park’s water department is attempting to clear clogged sewers with hopes that the waters will recede but so far the mayor’s office has received over 300 calls about flooded basements. The ground is extremely saturated and the storm drains simply could not handle the heavy rains that fell all day Wednesday.
