The snow has melted, now what?

Fortunately for Grand Rapids, after a relentless winter, we had a cool and dry March - which gave the 5 inches of water we'd built up in snow form a chance to melt and run off slowly. So far, despite a bit of ice dam panic, we haven't had too much flooding.

In the last week we've had warmer days, and most of the snow is now gone. Over the next few days, we could see some very wintry precipitation, including snow, ice, freezing rain, and rain, and next week looks likely for some wetter weather. Which means we could see the Grand River rising again, something no one wants after last year's destruction - which cost $13.1 million in Kent County alone.

The City of Grand Rapids has been negotiating with FEMA over the height of its floodwalls and attempting to woo Walker into sharing the cost of extending them along the river's northwest side.  Engineers have analyzed the weaknesses in the current floodwall system. A 100-year flood event - or a flood that has a 1% risk of happening in any year - would result in significant city flooding. In the interim, although city manager Greg Sundstrom does not believe we are looking at even lesser category flooding like last year's, the city has purchased 50,000 sandbags just in case so that, if necessary, the levees near Turner Ave. could be sandbagged and flooding in the city, like it saw in 1904, would be avoided. The wastewater treatment facility, which was sandbagged last year, is also a concern.

Sandbags are certainly good to have around in the short term, but it would be nice to feel confident that the city is on top of this issue. Because April is traditionally quite a rainy month, and our ground is still pretty saturated. It wouldn't take that much more rainfall to cause problems - now or some other spring.

Is Grand Rapids in for another Great Deluge this spring?

After months of snow and frigid temperatures, parts of West Michigan have the equivalent of 5 inches of rain, in frozen form, blocking their driveways, piled up against their houses and businesses, and in their streets. The usual pattern of accumulation, melt, accumulation, melt hasn't proved true this year, and unless we get a very gradual thaw, this could be a serious problem for many home and business owners in the coming weeks because the water has to go somewhere.

Beginning next Wednesday, we are in for a mini-thaw that will probably feel like summer after temperatures that have only climbed into the double digits at midday. That sudden increase will melt at least some of the standing snow and may create significant problems.

In recent days many have worried their roofs may collapse from the weight of all that snow, but under a thaw, new problems crop up. The snow accumulated on a well insulated roof will melt and refreeze and may create ice dams instead. Backed up ice can get under roof shingles and drip through ceilings, it can pull gutters out of shape or even off roofs, and it can suddenly break and fall off of a roof dropping a heavy weight on whatever lies beneath. Keep an eye on your roof to make sure this doesn't happen to you.

Ice can also melt and cause flooding. Get whatever snow you can away from the foundation of your house so that the water flows away from and not into it. We all know that melts can create ice jams and dam up rivers too. This is largely outside of our control, and we can only hope that the City of Grand Rapids floodwall system is in decent shape as there hasn't been time to entirely repair or improve the floodwall yet.  It only barely held out last year, and there was no reason to panic about flooding during the relatively mild winter of 2012-13. That winter was certainly not this winter. We may get some rain as well, which would only add to the runoff problems.

There's no reason to panic now. We can hope that the mini-thaw will not be problematic and will clear up the streets and melt down already formed ice dams. Just bear in mind that if you live near a river or in a place water pools, you should have a plan for dealing with it in mind now - before it's a problem.

Kent County In The Face Of Disaster

We see it all over the world; flash floods, unpredictable tornadoes, and stifling blizzards.  Natural disasters have an element of surprise that can be unnerving.  Although, certain incidents can’t be avoided in times of emergency, there are preventative ways to help eliminate the dangers of natural disasters through city preparedness.  

In April 2013, Grand Rapids experienced extreme flooding.  The Grand River, which flows through downtown, reached an all time high of 21.85 ft.; the flood stage for the river is 18 ft.  Images of emptied homes and windows with visible fish swimming by them rush to mind.  For at least a week, I was concerned my car would get stuck in the pools of water while driving and have to be dragged to an auto shop in Grand Rapids.  Mayor George Heartwell declared a state of emergency, the first since 1998.  What action was taken to further prepare our city for a disaster of this kind?

See if you can recall the February blizzard of 2011.  It began with 6.1 inches of snow recorded Tuesday, and continued with another 11.1 inches on Wednesday.  Countless businesses closed and all schools did.  Numerous homes lost power.  Out of necessity, neighbors worked together to dig snow from front doors and cars.  Not a state of emergency, but quite a disaster.  How did the city respond to this massive blizzard?

The Kent County Emergency Management Division is in charge of planning for, preparing for, and responding to natural disasters that occur within Kent County.  The Department of Homeland Security has identified specific projects that receive funding to improve the level of preparedness in our county in the face of disaster.  With the funding for these projects, Kent County has been able to increase training for our response agencies and improve our overall capability for natural disaster response.  Some of the specific projects are, enhancing Bomb Squad capability, critical infrastructure protection, providing Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear and Explosive equipment to responders, and citizen emergency training and preparedness programs; to name a few.  

Grand Rapids is working on a collaborative effort with 13 surrounding counties to develop a Regional Response Plan.  This will enhance abilities to respond and protect our communities by working together.  In 2012, a revision for the Greater Grand Rapids Hazard Mitigation Plan (GGRHMP) was approved by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency).  The plan is a joint effort between Kent County, Ottawa County and the city of Grand Rapids to identify risks and vulnerabilities of potential hazards.  

Kent County just started the Kent County Citizen Preparedness Program.  This is a twelve month program that focuses on a different area of emergency preparedness each month.  It is specifically designed to be understandable to Kent County residents and addresses various action plans in the face of emergency in West Michigan.  Monthly fact sheets are available at the Kent County Sheriff Department and the American Red Cross of Greater Grand Rapids.  

Grand Rapids may be a stranger to hurricanes and tsunamis, but it is comforting to know that our county is taking aggressive measures that will protect and prepare us for any natural disasters headed our way.