Heavy rainfall Monday during afternoon rush hour has caused widespread, serious flooding across Metro Detroit. One woman died from cardiac arrest after her vehicle was stuck in several feet of flood water in suburban Detroit. Many Detroit-area roadways were left impassable after the deluge of rainfall that came down, stranding hundreds and leaving scores of homeowners with flooded basements to deal with.
The storm that struck southeastern Michigan dumped over 6 inches of rain in some areas across Detroit and its suburbs. In Warren, approximately 1,000 vehicles were stranded in parking lots due to flooding. Warren’s mayor reported that he was seeking state aide to help residents there deal with the flood cleanup they face. Parts of interstates 75, 94 and 696 were shut down early Tuesday morning due to flooding.
Michigan State Police were telling people in the metro Detroit area to stay home Tuesday if possible because so many roadways were flooded out and closed. Michigan’s governor, Rick Snyder, said that additional state police officers, road crews and other resources were being called in to assist with recovery and cleanup efforts.
In Royal Oak, the Detroit Zoo was shut down Tuesday due to flooding that damaged buildings and equipment. The cities of Roseville, Mt. Clemens and Warren all reported widespread flooding that will result in many residents spending the next few weeks cleaning up basements and vehicles which were damaged by floodwater.
Michigan State Police lieutenant Michael Shaw said early Tuesday that all Detroit-area freeways were flooded at different areas and that it’s impossible to judge how deep the standing water is. He also reported that there was a mudslide on the Southfield freeway and that about 12 feet of water was standing at the I-75 and I-696 interchange. Shaw said that the situation was so serious that the State Police was calling in their dive team to help assist stranded motorists and to help clear vehicles off roadways.
From Royal Oak to the Downriver area, scores of homeowners have been reporting that their homes have been flooded. While some people measured the standing water in their basements in inches, others measured in feet. Some people reported that they heard rumbling in their basements from toilets and sewer drains which within five minutes, resulted in water shooting up out of their toilets and drains, causing devastating home flooding.
Many Detroit-area residents reported being shocked by the flooding that took place while they were making their afternoon commute. Some people said they drove through deep water and raced down streets, even running stop signs to get past the high water as fast as they could. Many of those people were not successful and had to abandon their vehicles.
