Two different crises are beginning to collide: the continuing coronavirus pandemic and record-high water levels expected to cause even worse flooding, shoreline erosion, road and infrastructure damage than occurred last spring.

Every Great Lake except Lake Ontario set its new record-high water level in February, with connected lakes Michigan and Huron 17 inches above their levels at the same time last year. As of March 27, Lakes Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, and Erie are 2-5 inches above their record-high monthly average March level.

As communities brace for an even worse flooding season than last year, it has the Red Cross rethinking evacuations — for flooding or any other reason — in a time when sheltering people together can potentially expose them to the COVID-19 virus.

Spring flooding has already begun in Michigan, with places like Ford Field Park in Dearborn inundated.

Repairs and mitigation efforts can occur even amid social distancing and a need to protect workers from contracting COVID-19, state officials told The Detroit Free Press.

Most staff with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's order, are working remotely as a result of the coronavirus, EGLE spokesman Nick Assendelft said.

"But they are still fulfilling every aspect of their jobs to the best of their abilities under the current circumstances," he said. "Staff will continue to expedite (shoreline erosion) permits, when appropriate, and inspect work, all while keeping in mind any limitations that might arise from stringently following all necessary good public health practices during the state's coronavirus emergency."

Road contractors working for the Michigan Department of Transportation shouldn't be hindered in their ability to repair flood-damaged roads because of the coronavirus, MDOT spokesman Jeff Cranston said.

"They really don't work that closely together, anyway," he said.

"The big problem for us, as was the case before coronavirus, is money, and where to find the money when we're already in a challenged funding environment."

MDOT Bureau of Development Director Bradley Wieferich in February estimated road fixes needed due to flooding and erosion would cost "in the neighborhood of about $100 million" — costly projects such as slope repairs, lifting the grade of roads and physically moving roads inland from the lakes where necessary.

Absent some interjection of federal disaster relief funds, the regular state road budget, used to fix roads and bridges crumbling from age and wear, would have to bear those huge additional costs, he said.

The federal relief could only come if Michigan and then the federal government declared portions of the state as disaster zones because of flooding and erosion damage, something that has not occurred to date.

The possibility of emergency appropriations for record-high water level-related road repairs may become further challenged as agencies like EGLE and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services may soon need their own emergency outlays as part of the COVID-19 response.

"I haven't heard any discussions about that," Cranston said.

Re-thinking Red Cross response

Nonprofit agencies like the American Red Cross don't just respond to major disasters, they often provide shelter to those displaced from their homes because of fires or from flooding caused by record-high water levels.

Those displaced by disasters are frequently relocated to large facilities such as gymnasiums. That gets more complicated when public health officials are urging people to avoid crowds of 10 or more, and to maintain at least 6 feet in distance from others, to help stop the spread of COVID-19. In addition, many facilities are being converted to field hospitals for coronavirus patients.

"The situation we're dealing with is unprecedented," said Perry Rech, regional spokesman for the American Red Cross in Michigan.

"It's sparked a lot of forward thinking (on) plans that need to be adjusted due to social distancing guidelines."

A shelter that may have housed 100 people in a disaster situation may now only house 40 people, or 30, when coronavirus safety is factored in, Rech said.

"These are the dialogues that are happening in real time," he said.

Most of those responding to disasters on behalf of the Red Cross are volunteers, Rech said.

In recent years, particularly since Hurricane Harvey hit the Houston area in 2017, the agency has relied more than ever upon virtual volunteers, people working remotely from computers to provide necessary services such as paperwork processing, directing those in need to local resources and to engage with the employers of those volunteering.

"We're soon going to see that model deployed in ways we haven't seen yet," Rech said.