Michigan Environment & Hazard Risk

Numerous roads and highways became impassable due to flooding. Four to eight inches of rainfall was reported in and around downtown Detroit, with Grosse Pointe Park reporting the highest total of 8.19 inches. Almost 15,000 homes suffered major flood damage, with close to 6000 homes experiencing minor flood damage across the northern part of county.

Five to eight inches of rain fell, leading to widespread major flooding. 57 homes were destroyed with over 1900 homes damaged. 193 roads and bridges damaged or destroyed.

This tornado formed in Antrim county 4 miles east of Alba and continued into Otsego county 100 yards SE of the Alba Rd/Old Alba Rd intersection. The tornado continued to move east northeast for almost 16 additional miles before dissipating around 1.75 miles northeast of Sparr. The tornado was rated EF3 in Otsego county based on damage surveyed in multiple locations around the Gaylord area. The first of these locations was damage in the Nottingham Forest manufactured home community. Multiple units were completely destroyed with debris blown away from the original locations of the units (DI 4, DOD 12). The second location was the business district of Gaylord where the buildings of Hobby Lobby, Maurices, and Jimmy Johns experienced collapses of exterior walls where interior walls remained standing (DI 10, DOD 8). The last location, which had the highest estimated wind speed of 150 mph, was damage found to homes on Berkshire Ln on the northeast side of Gaylord. Most exterior walls were collapsed and only partial interior walls were left standing (DI 2, DOD 8). The tornado dissipated at 1457 EST about 1.75 miles northeast of Sparr. Two fatalities were reported in the Nottingham...

Three to nearly seven inches of rainfall in the early morning hours of the 17th caused widespread and catastrophic flash flooding across much of Houghton County from Chassell through Houghton/Hancock to Dollar Bay, Hubbell and Lake Linden. The NOAA Precipitation Frequency Atlas indicated a 1000-year recurrence interval for rainfall amounts of the magnitude which occurred during this event. The Houghton County emergency manager reported that nearly all roads were impassable in central and southern Houghton County. Many homes and businesses were flooded throughout the area, particularly in Houghton/Hancock where one fatality occurred when a basement collapsed at a home on Canal Road. The Administration Building at Michigan Tech University also sustained flood damage. Governor Rick Snyder declared a state of disaster for Houghton County a day after the flooding occurred and damage estimates from flooding are currently over $100 million. Recovery efforts will be ongoing over Houghton County for the next several months.

The failure of Edenville Dam lead to the failure of the Sanford Dam downstream and historic flooding along the Tittabawassee River as the river stage at Midland reached 35.05 feet on May 20th. Widespread homes and businesses suffered damage. Two bridges were washed away and the highway U.S. 10 bridge was also damaged.

The Sanford Dam failed due to the failure of the Edenville Dam upstream in response to widespread heavy rain. This lead to historic flooding along the Tittabawassee River as the river stage at Midland reached 35.05 feet on May 20th. Approximately 1000 buildings or homes were severely damaged or destroyed, with about 1500 homes or buildings being affected or suffering minor flood damage in total across Midland County.