How You Can Help Reduce Flooding

There are tasks around the yard and home that, when done on a routine basis, help prevent storm sewer backups and overland flooding:

• Clean gutters, downspouts and roof drains of leaves and seeds, and inspect and reconnect or replace any broken or damaged downspouts.
• Keep grass clippings and branches from accumulating in ditches or streams on or near your property. Such debris can plug waterways and keep water from draining properly during rainstorms and snowmelt. State law prohibits dumping or throwing anything into ditches or streams. Call City Hall at 989-823-8517 for assistance with major blockages such as downed trees or if you see dumping or debris in ditches or streams.
• Replace eroded or settled soil around the home to maintain a positive slope away from foundations.
• Keep the water away from your home or building by re-grading your lot or by building a small floodwall or earthen berm. These methods work if your lot is large enough, if flooding is not too deep and if your property is not in the floodway.
• Make your walls waterproof and place watertight closures over the doorways. This method is not recommended for houses with basements or if water will get more than two feet deep. Any alteration to your building or land requires a permit from the Building Department. It’s best to check with the department before beginning any building or land-modifying projects by calling 989-837-3383.
• Streams, rivers, and other tributaries are important components of the storm sewer system. Keeping them free of restrictions and garbage is important to maintaining an effective flow of water.