Whitmer Extends Emergency Operations as Dam Risks, Flooding Threaten Michigan
Governor extends emergency operations as swollen rivers threaten dam infrastructure and force evacuations across multiple Michigan counties.
LANSING, MICHIGAN — Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced Tuesday she would extend activation of the State Emergency Operations Center as Michigan communities face severe flooding threats and potential dam failure risks caused by warming temperatures and increased rainfall.
The governor first activated the emergency center Friday in response to rising water levels at the Cheboygan Lock and Dam Complex on the Cheboygan River. The extension comes as snowmelt and spring rain have caused the river to swell, threatening to overwhelm the infrastructure.
Emergency Response Efforts Intensify
Work at the Cheboygan complex continued Tuesday, with the Department of Natural Resources reporting that crews had been placing giant sandbags and working to install two 24-inch pumps to move water around the dam. Teams have been working since Friday to reduce water flow through sandbagging, pumping water through the dam, and using a crane to remove one of the dam’s gates to allow water to flow more freely.
“We’re working from all different angles of this,” said Mike Janisse, leader of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Incident Management Team deployed to Cheboygan. “We have many cooperators and everyone is putting forth a strong effort.”
Multiple Flooding Concerns Across State
Separately, the county’s Office of Emergency Management issued a notice to evacuate low areas due to a levee breach of the Little Black River Watershed. Officials said that warning was unrelated to the situation unfolding at the Cheboygan Dam and Lock.
According to Michigan State Police, the lock on the dam remains closed, as it is designed to lift boats transitioning from Lake Huron to inland waterways. Allowing water to flow uncontrolled could damage the lock’s infrastructure and cause erosion, which could damage a privately-owned hydroelectric power house and jeopardize the dam.
Governor Prioritizes Public Safety
With high water levels throughout the state and more rain forecast, Whitmer said her priority remains protecting Michigan residents and their property. The governor cited the need for proactive measures as the reason for extending the State Emergency Operations Center activation.
The emergency operations center coordinates state resources and response efforts during natural disasters and other emergencies. The facility serves as a central command post for managing multi-agency responses to threats affecting public safety and infrastructure.
Weather conditions continue to pose challenges across Michigan as spring temperatures accelerate snowmelt while additional precipitation increases water levels in rivers and waterways statewide.
