Kalamazoo residents on the north side of the city have dealt with flooding for decades. Cheryle Alfieri has lived in her home for 30 years and says it is probably the 20th time she has flooded. She has invested in two pumps to keep water out of her home.
I've spent thousands replacing my pumps, and called this rain event incredible, Alfieri said.
With each half inch of rain, the flooding gets worse. The water pools into yards, making them unusable for weeks. Alfieri says her pumps are the only thing saving her right now, and they are often running.
Neighbors along West Prouty Street say they deal with this kind of flooding multiple times a year. Lamont Ayers lives in one of the affected homes and says it can take weeks for the flooding to recede.
We don't even have drains out on the street, Ayers said. I think it is maybe one drain out in the front of the house.
The city of Kalamazoo and Kalamazoo County are still responding to heavy flooding from recent rain. The water has left yards on West Prouty Street underwater and caused potholes on their street.
Neighbors have called on the Kalamazoo County Drain Commissioner's office to set up a better system in the neighborhood. City Public Services Director James Baker says the planning process began last year after many complaints from residents.
Flooding is no stranger to Kalamazoo, Baker said. We've got a lot of issues and a lot of different neighborhoods.
Later in 2026, crews will contour yards along West Prouty Street in order to drain stormwater into the nearby state ditch and eventually the Kalamazoo River. That county project is estimated to cost between $150,000 and $250,000 at no cost to homeowners.
The county is preparing a new drainage system to fix repeated flooding around West Prouty Street. Crews plan to put in a conveyance swale to stop the water from pooling into yards and backyards.
My pumps are the only thing saving me right now, Alfieri said. In fact, my pumps are running as we're talking.
The city is also planning a double storm inlet project at West Paterson Street with two connected drains so that one can continue working if the other is plugged from debris.
City leaders announced sandbags are available at several community associations for residents who need them. They are available for pickup at the Washington Square parking lot due to limited space in the Edison Neighborhood Association lot.
Kalamazoo County is working to alleviate backyard flooding while the city hopes to keep potholes and water deterioration on the road from developing further.
What's important to note is each one of those flooding issues is different in that the solution and the remedy for that flood situation is different for each area, Baker said.
For homeowners like Alfieri, any drainage help cannot come soon enough. The city expects the Kalamazoo River and Portage Creek to begin lowering this week, despite some additional rainfall.