40% of Properties Flooded in Detroit Suburb; Governor Declares Disaster

August 15, 2014

Officials in the Detroit suburb of Dearborn say about 40 percent of homes and commercial properties in the city were flooded or had sewer backups in their basements when heavy rain hit the area on Aug. 11.

The National Weather Service says Dearborn saw 6 inches of rain. The Detroit Free Press reports city hall was damaged by flooding. Earlier this week, the city said that more than 75 percent of its roads were flooded and impassible. More than 85 cars were towed out of floodwaters.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder has declared a state of disaster in the Detroit area after the heavy rain caused major road closures, flooded houses and damaged infrastructure.

Snyder said the action will help the state “fully coordinate and maximize efforts to support” local communities. The state declaration applies to Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties and their affected municipalities.

Snyder says the flooding impacting southeastern Michigan “is a disaster in every sense of the word.”

Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano said that an emergency declaration by Michigan allows a variety of resources to potentially be made available including support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Topics Flood Michigan

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