Mich. city declares emergency as flooding continues

Elisha Anderson, Detroit Free Press | USATODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Monday morning Grand Rapids flood update Monday morning Grand Rapids, Mich., flood update

Several flood warnings and advisories are in effect in mid-Michigan

Grand River set a record high near Grand Rapids

Hundreds of residents are helping to fill more than 100%2C000 sand bags over the weekend

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Residents are bracing for continued flooding as the Grand River crested overnight.

The river peaked Sunday night in downtown Grand Rapids around 21.85 feet, topping the previous record of 19.64 feet set in 1985, the National Weather Service reported Monday. Flood stage is 18 feet.

The river also crested around 17.8 feet at Comstock Park in Kent County's Plainfield Township, north of Grand Rapids, edging a record of 17.75 feet set in 1948, the weather service said. Flood stage is 12 feet.

Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell had declared a state of emergency as the river drove residents from some low-lying areas. And several flood warnings and advisories are in effect in mid-Michigan.

Flood warnings remain in effect for the Grand River in Ionia County. Warnings also are in effect for the Maple River in Clinton County and the Red Cedar River in East Lansing, the weather service said.

A volunteer effort to fill more than 100,000 sandbags was being coordinated by the City of Grand Rapids, with volunteers working since Thursday.

Jennifer Larkie and her family were among the hundreds who came out to the Grand Rapids maintenance garage on Sunday.

For the Larkies, it was a lesson in civic responsibility.

"I'm actually feeling a little joyful because I'm helping out the city," said Bradley Larkie, 7, who was there with his mother, brother and father.

"Homework can be done later in the week," Jennifer Larkie said as her son did his part. She said she has lived in the area all of her life and has never seen the water from the Grand River this high.

Frank Wilcox, 63 of Grand Rapids, came out to fill bags with his family, including two grandsons.

"Its just awful." He said. "You don't want the town to go under."

John Schaut, the income tax administrator for the City of Grand Rapids, predicted 4,000 to 5,000 volunteers over the past few days have turned out to help keep the city safe.

"We think our flood walls will hold," he said.

Though the city, sofar, has been spared from heavy damage, the rising Grand River has flooded homes in several western Michigan communities and is pushing toward a record high near Grand Rapids.

Flood advisories -- which mean minor flooding is possible -- have been issued along the Grand River in Eaton Rapids, the Red Cedar in Williamston and the Looking Glass River near Eagle.

An advisory issued Saturday for the Grand River in Lansing continues until Monday afternoon, according to the weather service. While the flood stage is 11 feet, the river crested Saturday at 10.8 feet in Lansing and is expected to slowly recede, the weather service said.

In East Lansing, the weather service's warning is in effect until late Monday. The river crested at 7.9 feet this morning, above the 7-foot flood stage. The weather service predicted the Red Cedar's levels will slowly fall, dropping below flood stage by Monday afternoon.

Flooding across the Midwest now has been blamed in three deaths -- two at the same spot in Indiana and one in Missouri. In all three cases, vehicles were swept off the road in flash floods. High water could be responsible for two more, both in Illinois, where a decomposed body was found Thursday in an Oak Brook creek and a body was found Saturday in the Mississippi River at Cora. Investigations continue.

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn declared at least 41 counties disaster areas from flooding. Flooding along the Fox and Des Plaines rivers has left many roads impassable in communities such as Lisle, Gurnee and Des Plaines, and in some cases residents are getting around in canoes.

Indiana officials were still determining if flooded communities like Kokomo, Tipton and Elwood will be eligible for disaster aid.

Spots south of St. Louis aren't expected to crest until next week, and significant flooding is possible in places like Ste. Genevieve and Cape Girardeau in Missouri and Cairo, Ill.

Adding to concern is a forecast that calls for heavy rain Monday night and Tuesday throughout much of the Midwest. National Weather Service meteorologist Julie Phillipson said an inch of rain is likely in many places, some places even more.

"That's not what we want to see when we have this kind of flooding, that's for sure," Phillipson said.

Contributing: The Associated Press