May 16, 2003
May 15, 2003
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today declared a State of Emergency for Marquette County in Michigan's Upper Peninsula due to flooding caused by a dam break and the potential for worsening conditions in the city of Marquette and the surrounding area.
"We are making state resources available to assist the citizens of Marquette County in their effort to deal with the disruption caused by this unexpected flood," Granholm said. "This is a difficult time, particularly for the residents of the city of Marquette, Marquette Township and Negaunee Township, and we stand with them and will continue to do so throughout this crisis."
On Wednesday, May 14, excessive rain and normal spring water saturation caused water to back up behind an earthen dike on the Silver Lake reservoir in Marquette County. Eventually, the water pressure caused the dike to fail. Water flooded approximately 100 seasonal and several year-round homes along a mostly rural stretch of the Dead River and Dead River catch basin, ultimately forcing the evacuation of more than 1,700 residents. The floodwaters have also washed out several bridges, caused road closures, and threatened to breach the Hoist Dam west of the city of Marquette.
The Hoist Dam is now stable, but excessive water is expected to flow through it and the McClure Dam tonight. As a result, the National Weather Service has issued flash flood warnings from Silver Lake Dam to Lake Superior, an area that includes the city of Marquette.
Officials from the Emergency Management Division, Michigan Department of State Police (EMD/MSP) are monitoring the situation as part of the Marquette County Emergency Operations Center and from the EMD/MSP offices in Lansing.
Damage and impact assessment information is being compiled by the EMD/MSP. Dam safety engineers from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) are at the scene in Marquette to monitor and assess the situation and provide technical advice and assistance to local and Upper Peninsula Power Company (UPPCO) officials.
No other state or federal assistance has been requested or mobilized at this time.
