Michigan State Police Extends Emergency Operations Center Activation as Flooding Threatens Cheboygan Dam

Michigan State Police extended the activation of the State Emergency Operations Center as water levels continue to rise at the Cheboygan Lock and Dam Complex, threatening dams and severe flooding across the state.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer activated the emergency center on Friday, April 10, at 10 a.m. The activation was extended to noon on April 14 as water levels remain elevated and more rain is forecast over the next few days.

"With already high water levels across the state and more rain in the forecast over the next few days, we are proactively extending our activation of the State Emergency Operations Center," Whitmer said. "This will ensure work continues around the Cheboygan Lock and Dam Complex to increase pumping capacity and place sandbags, but it also helps us deploy additional supplies to other areas of the state that may be at risk of flooding."

The Michigan State Police Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division activated the Joint Information Center as the source of state agency information dissemination. Col. James F. Grady II, director of the MSP and state director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, stated that the agency stands ready to coordinate response efforts to protect residents.

"We continue to support the response efforts happening at the Cheboygan Lock and Dam Complex and have our MSP/EMHSD district coordinators working with local emergency managers across the state to make sure communities have the support and resources they need," Grady said.

Warming temperatures combined with recent rain and ongoing snowmelt have increased water levels across the state. The public has been urged to sign up for local alerts to stay informed on the latest news and information.

The SEOC was activated on Friday, April 10, to support response efforts to rising water levels at the Cheboygan Dam and Lock Complex on the Cheboygan River. Officials are closely monitoring water levels and working with the private sector to increase water flow through the dam.

Over the past 24 hours, the river has risen to 18 inches below the top of the Cheboygan Dam. State officials have a comprehensive plan in place to protect Michiganders and their property. If water levels reach 12 inches below the crest of the dam, the response will expand to include additional public safety measures.

A large piece of ice also damaged safety wire near the dam. As a result, the Department of Natural Resources has closed access points upstream and downstream of the dam.

State and federal officials are exploring additional ways to increase outflow from the Cheboygan Lock and Dam Complex, including the possibility of refiring a previously damaged hydroelectric generator. The complex includes the Cheboygan Lock and Dam and a privately owned hydroelectric facility. It is regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

The DNR has brought in larger capacity pumps to move water over Cheboygan Dam. The state has also announced the opening of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant program for fiscal year 2025, seeking project proposals from eligible applicants across the state.

For tips on how to prepare before, during and after an emergency or disaster, residents can visit MIReady. The public is urged to sign up for local alerts to stay informed on the latest news and information about the flooding situation.