*KALAMAZOO, Mich.* — The City of Kalamazoo and Kalamazoo County declared a local state of emergency on Friday, April 17, following widespread damage and property loss caused by ongoing flooding across the area.

Numerous homes throughout Kalamazoo have experienced basement flooding and water intrusion due to abnormally high groundwater levels. Local streets and infrastructure have also become flooded in several areas.

The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety and crews from the Kalamazoo Department of Public Services are actively deployed throughout the city to assist impacted residents.

What This Means for Residents

With additional rain expected in the coming days, the city and county governments are encouraging residents to check their basements and homes for signs of water intrusion. City officials reported that prolonged rainfall has saturated soil and elevated creek and river levels, worsening flooding conditions.

City residents are asked to report any flooding through an online survey. The survey feeds directly to Kalamazoo Emergency Management and helps the city assess impacts and allocate resources.

Free Sandbags Available

To help residents protect their homes from flooding, the Kalamazoo Department of Public Services is establishing sandbag distribution sites at three locations:

  • Northside Association for Community Development (NACD)
  • Douglass Community Association
  • Edison Neighborhood Association

Residents can obtain free sandbags to help mitigate water intrusion, particularly around basement entries and foundation cracks. The sandbag distribution sites became operational at 2 p.m. on Friday, April 17.

The Michigan State Police Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division is coordinating the distribution of cleanup kits for affected residents. Those who need cleanup supplies can call 211 to request assistance.

State-Wide Emergency Declared

On Friday, Governor Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency for Kalamazoo and four other counties, as well as the cities of Kalamazoo and Ann Arbor. There are now 38 counties in the state under a state of emergency.

Official Guidance

County officials emphasized that at this time there are no widespread disruptions to County services. However, some residents particularly in low-lying or flood-prone areas may experience groundwater intrusion or basement flooding.

Kalamazoo County Board Chair Jen Strebs said: We know some residents are already seeing water in their basements, apartments, and businesses, and we understand how disruptive that can be. Declaring a state of emergency allows us to bring in additional resources and support residents while we continue to monitor conditions and respond as needed.

County officials will continue to monitor groundwater levels and river conditions and will provide updates as needed.

Safety Reminders

Officials issued the following safety guidance for residents:

  • Do not walk or drive through flooded areas. Follow the Turn Around, Dont Drown! campaign.
  • Avoid wading in floodwater, which can be contaminated and contain dangerous debris.
  • Do not touch electrical equipment if it is wet or if you are standing in water.
  • Shut off power to flooded areas of your home.

Residents can find additional resources at www.ready.gov/floods. Those affected by flooding can also find guidance on safe cleanup and recovery from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

More information can be found by monitoring the official City of Kalamazoo Facebook page.