Michigan Is Prone to Severe Weather and Danger of Flooding
The Midwestern state of Michigan is one which consists of hundreds and hundreds of lakes and rivers. Known as the ‘Great Lake State’, Michigan is also often subjected to heavy thunderstorms and tornadoes in the springtime. Often major storms moving across the United States from the west build up momentum in the Ohio River Valley and pound the state of Michigan with heavy, driving rains that can last for many hours.
This spring has been a wet one in the state. The National Weather Service has recently issued flood watches and advisories for dozens of counties in Michigan – most in the lower peninsula. If you live in a low lying area in Michigan or in a known flood zone, you should make every effort possible to ensure that your home or business is protected from flood damage. Flash floods can develop very rapidly and sometimes in just a matter of a few minutes and without any warning. Water in a flash flood move rapidly, picking up debris along the way which makes them very hazardous.
You should always be prepared to evacuate your home in the case of an imminent flood. If forced to leave your home, be sure not to walk in flood water. Just six inches of moving water can knock you off your feet so if you have to walk, then do it where the water is not moving. You should also carry a large stick with you so you can feel the firmness of the ground in front of you. If floodwater rises around your car, leave the car and move to high ground. Otherwise you and your vehicle could very well be swept away rather violently.
It is also a good idea to take out some flood insurance because typical homeowner’s policies do not cover flood damage. Keep in mind the fact that there is most usually a thirty day waiting period before flood insurance takes effect, so it is best not to put off buying it. It is simply not worth the risk not to have flood protection these days as we are undergoing changes in our climate – making weather patterns hard to predict.
Michigan is a beautiful state with a whole lot to offer residents. However, it is one that receives much inclement weather all year around. Heavy snowfalls in the winter lead to massive snow melts in the springtime, which do pose a significant threat for flooding in much of the state. Therefore, as a home or business owner, you must do what is necessary to protect both you and your property from the possibility of flooding.
