Rising Waters Threaten Homes and Roads as National Weather Service Issues Flood Alerts for Kent and Ottawa Counties

Residents along the Grand River in Grand Rapids and Kent County are bracing for continued flooding as river levels rise through the region. The National Weather Service issued flood warnings for areas along the Grand River in both Kent and Ottawa counties on April 6, with the threat of rising waters expected to persist through Thursday and potentially into next week.

Recent rainfall on already saturated ground is causing rivers to rise and minor flooding is expected across West Michigan, especially in Kent County, according to the National Weather Service and Kent County officials.

The flood warnings were triggered by heavy rainfall over the past several days, with some areas receiving between 4 and 5 inches of rain over a three-day period. Plainwell recorded 4.67 inches, Hopkins saw 4.38 inches, and Otsego measured 4.32 inches during the same period.

Grand Rapids Area Could See Additional Half-Foot Rise

The Grand River at Comstock Park is forecast to reach near-major flooding levels, with projections showing the river cresting at 15.70 feet on Tuesday at 8 p.m. The river at Grand Rapids has been upgraded to a river flood warning and will rise nearly a foot and a half before reaching its peak. Flood stage along the river is set at 18 feet.

The Grand river at Comstock Park will rise another 1/2-foot before it finally crests, according to meteorologist Jeff Porter.

The Grand River at Grand Rapids will continue to rise through Thursday before reaching its maximum elevation. The river flood warning in Grand Rapids does not expire until late Thursday night, though the warning in Robinson Township in Ottawa County will not expire until next Monday.

Communities Downstream Still Face Risk

Even though the Grand River has already crested in Ionia County, the high water must work its way through Kent County and Ottawa County before finally reaching Lake Michigan. The Thornapple River near Hastings has already crested, but the Portage River at Vicksburg is expected to continue rising after its flood warning was recently cancelled.

The St. Joseph River at Three Rivers is also about to crest, adding to the flooding concerns across West Michigan. Residents in flood-prone areas should take the warnings seriously and prepare for possible road closures or evacuation if conditions worsen.

What Residents Should Do

Officials are advising residents in flood-prone areas to:

• Move valuables to higher levels
• Check sump pumps
• Clear drains
• Be prepared for possible road closures or evacuation
• Never drive through flooded roads

Residents in flood-prone areas should: Move valuables to higher levels, check sump pumps, and clear drains. Be prepared for possible road closures or evacuation. Never drive through flooded roads, according to NWS guidance.

The National Weather Service is continuously monitoring the situation and will provide updates on water levels and any mandatory evacuation orders. Residents can monitor NWS alerts online as conditions develop.

NWS alerts can be continuously monitored online, according to local officials.