Heavy Rain in Michigan, September 10, 2000

A tropical airmass was in place in southeast Michigan. Scattered thunderstorms developed in the afternoon, with several storms moving repeatedly over central and eastern Oakland County. The National Weather Service Office in White Lake measured 2.53 inches of rain; Pontiac received closer to 3 inches.Most of the area could handle the rain, as it had been fairly dry in the area since late August. However, the heaviest rain fell at exactly the wrong time, in exactly the wrong place. At the Pontiac Silverdome, the Detroit Lions were hosting their home opener for the new NFL season, with a game time of 4 pm against the Washington Redskins. The deluge hit in the one to two hours before kickoff, just as over 80,000 attendees were making their way to the east side of Pontiac for the game.The Silverdome rests in the valley of the Clinton River, and the area is known to be flood-prone. The city wastewater treatment plant sits almost next door to the Silverdome. A pump failure at the plant during the heavy rain contributed to standing water surrounding much of the Silverdome. Hundreds of fans had to abandon their vehicles and wade their way into the stadium. The tunnel entrance to the playing field also flooded. The large amount of flood damage in vehicles in and around the Silverdome prompted a Presidential Disaster Declaration.Problems were more isolated in the rest of Oakland County. A small creek in Commerce Township, in a newly developed area, rose out of its banks. Roads, back yards, and a golf course were flooded. A drainage problem led to water two feet deep over some streets in a Lake Orion subdivision. Other communities impacted included Waterford, Farmington Hills, West Bloomfield, and Auburn Hills. The heavy rain would also set the stage for serious flooding the next day.