Flood in Michigan, April 1 to 4, 1998

Record breaking snows fell across Alpena county during the first half of March...much of it having a high moisture content. This high moisture content snow quickly melted during a rapid late month warm up which was accompanied by heavy rains. The melting snow...in combination with the heavy rains... caused rapid rises on streams and rivers across the county. Water rises on streams were further enhanced by ice which still blocked the main channels of the streams in many instances. Flooding began during the morning of the 1st and continued into the 4th. At the peak of the flooding over 50 roads across the county were partially closed. Many of these roads received varying amounts of damage to bridges...culverts and related infrastructure. In several instances portions of the roads were entirely washed out. The most extensive flooding of homes occurred in a subdivision on the northwest side of the city of Alpena. In this area...a railroad grade which had been acting as a dike was washed out allowing water from a bordering drainage area to flood the subdivision. Flood waters rose to depths of 5 to 6 feet in the subdivision producing major damage to 40 homes and 3 buisnesses with an additional 70 homes receiving lesser damages. Across the rest of the county...5 additional homes received major damage and 85 homes had varying amounts of minor damage. Damage to residential structures across the county was estimated at around $900,000. Damages to roads and related infrastructure was estimated at around $5,700,000.