Many still homeless after ice jam flood

MECOSTA TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - The week after ice jam in the Muskegon River caused flooding in Mecosta County, dozens of people are still without homes and some are running out of funds.
 
Damage costs are estimated to be around $4.6 million, but the county said actual figures may be much higher.
 
Water levels have dropped three feet since the Jan. 31 flood, but many homes are still unlivable.   Along the Muskegon River, 84 homes and garages were affected. At least 60 remain uninhabitable, including Rick Carrick's house.
 
"We've got two space heaters here, and it's been going since 3 o'clock this afternoon and it's 38 degrees," he said.
 
He has been working at the house to try to clean things up. In the meantime, his family has been staying in a hotel. The room has already cost him over a grand and funds are running low. His wife has been trying to get assistance from the Red Cross, the city, the county, or anyone else.  
 
"She's been calling all over the place trying to find something and hasn't had any luck," said Carrick.
 
Organizations are offering information, Carrick said, but no real assistance. The Red Cross shut down its shelter over the weekend.
 
"We'll just keep looking," said Carrick.
 
While he was talking with 24 Hour News 8, there was a knock at his door. George Lipinski stopped by to offer Carrick's family a place to stay, even though the two had never met before. Carrick was grateful for the offer, saying he would discuss it with his wife.
 
"I can't believe with all the people that should and could do something that nothing is being done," said Lipinski.
 
But while there may not be much organized help, neighbors are pitching in.
 
"I spend about 10 hours a day outside fighting the flood, helping the neighbors, and we are just helping each other basically," said resident Melissa Hartline.
 
Hartline took 24 Hour News 8 to her neighbor's flooded home, which is now covered in a sheet of ice.
 
"These houses no one is living in. Then all the way down to where the road is not closed."
 
Water is still running over the road near Hartline's home and she has to keep pumping it out of her basement.

"We have a fairly dry basement as of now," she said. "There's nothing we can do to stop it, just take every day, one step at a time and help each other. That's what we've been doing."

The clean up is a continuous process. Generators can be heard running and hoses can be seen pumping out water around the clock. It's not yet known when everyone will be able to move back into their homes.

Mecosta County is urging residents who have not yet had property damage evaluated to call for an assessment at 231.592.0108.