MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI – Muskegon County residents living in the Muskegon River basin are being asked to leave their homes voluntarily because of the current flooding situation.

Muskegon’s Emergency Services Director Dan Stout, who is also the Muskegon County undersheriff, said he is urging residents there to leave their homes as soon as possible.

Those affected are in Cedar Creek Township, Egelston Township, Muskegon Township, the southeast corner of Dalton Township and the northwest corner of Moorland Township.

“This is a dangerous situation and cannot be underestimated,” Stout said. “I was out there earlier today and most of the houses on Maple Island Road are surrounded by water -- completely by water. Some of the houses have water right up to the walls of the house.”

Citizens, who evacuate and do not have a place to go, are asked to meet at the Egelston Township Fire Department at 5380 East Apple Ave., where they will receive instructions. Citizens who evacuate their homes are also asked to call Consumers Energy at (231) 724-8819 so they can turn off the electricity to that location. Those with questions can call the fire department direct at (231) 788-2254.

A good portion of Maple Island Road is completely flooded, Stout said. That part of the road has been closed to traffic.

“We have lost one-third of our routes going from south to north,” Stout said. “If you’re in southern Muskegon County, to go north you either have to cross the veteran’s bridge or take U.S. 31 or Maple Island Road and now you’re down to only those two roads.”

Stout said citizens who choose to stay in their homes can’t be forced to leave or fined, he said. But it’s in their best interest to pack what they can and evacuate as soon as possible.

“We are making the recommendation that they should leave. If you’re in a home there and water is inside of it – well, the electricity and water don’t mix,” he said. “There is a lot of things in your home that don’t mix well with water.”

But citizens can’t be made to leave, he said.

“This is United States. All we can do is advise them and an offer them an alternative,” he said. “A man’s home is his castle. We can’t make him leave.”

Stout said the Muskegon River is expected to rise for the next 24 to 48 hours.

“It isn’t going to stay the same and it isn’t going down,” Stout said. “It’s only going to get worse from here.”

Heather Lynn Peters covers police and fire, and writes a statewide food column, The Spunky Kitchen, for MLive Muskegon Chronicle. Email her at hpeters@mlive.com and follow her on Twitter @HLPNEWS.