MidMichigan Flood

Will A Flood Disaster Strike MidMichigan Again?

As if one devastating flood was not enough, property owners in Midland, Gladwin, Saginaw & Arenac counties may be subject to more flooding without warning.

Over 10,000 Midland residents were evacuated when the Edenville and Sanford Dams collapsed during recent storms; however, the catastrophic damage caused by the resulting floods is likely only the beginning.  Federal regulators now say that the Smallwood and Secord Dams also sustained significant flood erosion and downstream slope damage, which is likely to exacerbate the effects of future rainstorms and potentially result in further devastating floods.

If you are interested in joining the class-action lawsuit against the owners of the Edenville, Sandford, Smallwood, and Secord Dams, call our office to schedule a complimentary consultation.  Our experienced MidMichiganflood lawyers can evaluate your case and explain our legal options.

In this hard-hit area, additional flooding will be an even further tragic disaster.  This is precisely why it was (and still is) essential for the Edenville, Sandford, Smallwood, and Secord dams to be properly maintained in the first place.  Unfortunately, for over twenty-five years, the multi-millionaire owners of the Edenville and Sanford dams have repeatedly ignored warnings of their unsafe conditions and the likelihood that floodwaters could easily breach the structures, compromising the safety and livelihood of thousands of residents.

The affluent heirs of the founder of the Boy Scouts of America originally purchased the dams to avoid a hefty $600,000 IRS tax bill and to capitalize on hydroelectric power revenue.  Since acquiring the dams, their interests have seemingly been almost entirely on personal financial gain, as they have neglected to make necessary repairs to protect residents, despite receiving numerous warnings and knowing that the dams were operating at less than 50% target capacity.  Now, they are continuing to disregard their duties to take timely corrective action to prevent future harm.

At Olsman MacKenzie Peacock & Wallace, we filed a class-action suit in seeking to hold the dam owners responsible for their decades-long, gross neglect of the structures.  Further, we are fighting tenaciously in seeking to get full and fair compensation for the flooding victims in Midland, Gladwin, Saginaw & Arenac counties who have suffered devastating losses because of the owners’ reprehensible inaction.

Our seasoned litigators represent MidMichiganflood victims from any of the effected areas on a contingency-fee-basis, meaning that we will not charge a fee unless we obtain a settlement or damages.  If you were a victim of the floods, there is still time to join the case and seek damages for your losses.  Call our office to schedule a free consultation to learn how to get started.

Why is Additional Flooding So Dangerous?

Midland County Emergency Preparedness has advised that due to recent dam failures, the path, flow, rise, and forecasting of the Tittabawassee River have changed along with the ability to predict when specific areas will flood accurately.  As a result, residents may not receive adequate warnings until the last minute, creating an extremely dangerous situation.

Midland County Emergency Management, in coordination with the Army Corps of Engineers and the National Weather Service, are advising residents that live in the areas impacted by river flooding to expect and prepare for the river to rise and crest faster than it has in previous flooding events.  Thus, it is essential to anticipate and proactively prepare for the worst-case flooding scenarios.

What Should I Do to Prepare for Future Midland Floods?

Even though property owners were previously advised that they were not in a flood plain, it appears due to the dam failures, this is no longer the case.  Now, they must remain on high alert for future floods. Midland County Emergency Preparedness has advised, due to the limited predictability in the forecasting of river levels, that property owners should stay tuned to media outlets, social media, and Midland 911 alerts through Nixle and follow directions from public safety and emergency management as quickly as possible during rain, storm, and flooding events.

Residents of Midland and the surrounding communities can take the following actions to stay apprised of updates, flood response information, and details on potential flooding:

For more information on future flood preparedness, visit the City of Midland’s civic-alert webpage. 

 

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