New Baltimore residents fed up with flooding

Mar 01, 2024

Flooding brought on by heavy rainfall has some area residents struggling to keep their heads — and homes — above water.

A recent round of late summer thunderstorms dumped more than 6 inches of precipitation over two days on many local communities. New Baltimore received more than 3.4 inches of rain in a four-hour period on Aug. 23, and more than 3 inches of rain in a 45-minute period less than 16 hours later, Mayor Tom Semaan said.

“We experienced a rain event unlike any other in the history of this city,” the mayor said at an Aug. 28 city council meeting.

As of Aug. 30, Macomb County has not been included in a state of emergency declared by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer following the storms. A pair of counties in west Michigan were added.

“I have been on the phone with our local, our county and our state representatives to make sure that she understands the amount of devastation that this small community has experienced,” Semaan said. “And we are still learning today what that devastation looks like. We have fielded no less than 140 phone calls and talked with residents and trying to guide them the best we can in how now to deal with the after effects.”

On Aug. 30, both New Baltimore and Chesterfield Township declared a local state of emergency with a request for evaluation from the governor’s office.

“We appreciate the coordination and assistance that Macomb County has put forth in getting this State of Emergency declared for our residents and businesses,” Chesterfield Township Supervisor Brad Kersten said in a news release. “The flooding and damage that occurred is devastating not only to us but to surrounding communities like New Baltimore as well. We will continue to do everything we can to maintain and improve our infrastructure within the township by working closely with our partners in Macomb County and within our own Department of Public Service.”

Damage assessments will be conducted in both communities Thursday and Friday. New Baltimore residents and business owners can report damage and request an assessment by calling 586-725-2181, option 2. In Chesterfield Township, citizens are asked to call 586-949-0400, ext. 6449, or submit an online citizen request form at chesterfieldtwp.org.

The New Baltimore mayor said the city’s wastewater treatment plant was operated 24/7 with employees and administrators working around the clock, and all pump stations in the city remained in operation.

“There’s no answer that I can give you that is going to satisfy everybody,” the mayor said.

“When you have feet of surface water … it is going to go somewhere. It will infiltrate every opening available to itself, including stormwater and sewers and sanitary lines.”

Several citizens attended the recent council meeting to voice their frustrations over flooded basements and living rooms, and urged officials to do something about it.

Dawn Razz, who lives on Orchard Lake Drive in the Northridge subdivision off County Line Road south of 25 Mile Road, said by the morning of Aug. 24 the street had flooded with water, and the retention pond had risen halfway up the yard. After another round of rainfall that night, things only got worse.

“We bailed water for over 16 hours trying to keep the damage to a minimum,” she said.

Razz said the water ended up spilling over the retention wall on her property for the first time ever.

“We personally built a retention wall years ago when we moved in because we were told about flooding,” she said. “Our retention wall is almost 2 1/2 feet high, which we always thought was safe.”

Robert Garvin, who lives on Ashley Street just off Anchor Bay, said the water rolled downhill toward the lake, flooded his basement and “took everything I have.”

“When we got a hurricane coming off the Gulf, we have Maui that burned to the ground — what are we going to do? This is not simple anymore,” he said. “The more we put on the properties, the more cement we allow on it … You all have to do something. Not that it’s your fault. I’m not saying it is, but this is insane.”

On Woodland Drive, off County Line Road south of the Northridge subdivision, residents experienced similar issues. Linda Gonyeau said she had more than 4 inches of water in her home and 10 to 12 inches in the garage and yard.

“I never wanted a waterfront property — or water-inside property,” she said. “How am I supposed to replace things this time? I still have not been able to replace things from last time.”

Residents in that area have been expressing concerns about flooding for years as wetland clearing and development threaten to exacerbate the issue. One project includes the addition of a condominium subdivision on the east side of County Line Road north of Green Street/M-29.

“I am pleading with you — pleading, pleading with you — to work with and for us this time,” Gonyeau said. “Would any of you have different thoughts if this was your loved ones? Please don’t let this fall on deaf ears this time. We need answers and we are demanding … a delay on this project and for you to make phone calls to protect us.”

Semaan said the city’s wastewater treatment plant normally operates at 1.5 million gallons per day, with a capacity to maintain an overflow of 6.5 million gallons. Some residents asked why the city didn’t discharge any water into the lake as the flooding occurred.

“We never got to that point,” the mayor said. “There was no need for a discharge and therefore one never took place.”

City council member Flo Hayman described the situation as a tragedy.

“I’m sure that we are looking into some of the issues that possibly could be resolved to prevent it from happening again,” she said.

Following the storms, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services offered the following tips to help keep people safe and healthy during flooding events:

• Stay out of floodwaters. Floodwater moves faster than it appears and can carry debris. There is also a danger of electrical shock from downed and exposed power lines. Children should never play around high water, storm drains, viaducts or arroyos.

• Floodwater can be dangerous to your health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, floodwater can contain dangerous bacteria and other pollutants, including raw sewage. Flooding can lead to contaminated groundwater and drinking water and carry sewage from sewers or septic systems into yards and basements.

• Avoid driving in floodwater, as vehicles can easily be swept away. If you are stranded and surrounded by flood waters, wait for rescue personnel rather than attempting to walk or drive through floodwaters.

• Use caution when reentering a home or building that has been flooded. If you can, return to your home during the day so you do not have to use any lights. Do not turn power on or off or use an electric tool or appliance while standing in water. If you smell gas or suspect a leak, leave the area immediately and notify the gas company or the police or fire departments.

• If your home has been flooded and has been closed up for several days, CDC cleaning recommendations include washing and sanitizing flooded areas of the home. MDHHS provides recommendations to clean up visible mold.

• Never use generators, pressure washers, or other gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal-burning devices inside your home, basement, garage, or even outside near an open window, door or vent. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas from these sources that can cause sudden illness and death.

• Mosquitoes, which can carry West Nile Virus and other mosquito-borne diseases, breed in standing water. Floodwaters can increase the population of mosquitoes and raise the risk of being infected. Regular use of EPA-approved mosquito repellents while outdoors can protect you from mosquitos.

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