MARQUETTE, MI— The flooding situation in Marquette County may be improving.
Marquette County Emergency Manager Brian Hummel says levels along the Michigamme River should hold for the next couple of days and begin to slowly recede over the weekend; the Escanaba River is down two feet from two days ago; and levels are still high along the Chocolay, but there haven’t been any significant issues there.
Several culverts have failed around the county.
Hummel says frost levels on gravel roads in northern Ishpeming and Negaunee Townships were minimal and now the roads are soft in spots, which poses a problem if an emergency arises.
“Full-time residents may not be able to receive fire or EMS services due to poor road conditions. It’s something our first responders have done some planning around and they have specialty equipment to access those people in an emergency.”
Governor Whitmer is expected to declare the county a disaster area soon. Hummel says the designation will help alleviate some of the stress on area first responders.
“It will also bring in additional resources for the citizens and there will also be the potential for some financial assistance for our townships and the county, as well.”
Officials say forecasted rain over the next couple of days isn’t expected to have much of an effect on river levels.
