Homes, road flooding because of ice jam

ROBINSON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - Some homes are being affected by flooding in Robinson Township caused by an ice jam on the Grand River in Grand Haven.

The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Warning for the area.

The ice jam continues to force water levels upstream higher, causing the NWS to increase flood warnings from minor to moderate severity.

As of Thursday, waters were at 14.9 feet, well above the 13.3-foot flood stage. Levels increased three tenths of a foot between 3:40 p.m. and 9:40 p.m. Wednesday.

Van Lopik Road is under between 1 and 2 feet of water, and a few residents on the east end of that road are seeing moderate flooding at their homes.

The river will continue to rise to about 15.3 feet and then fall below flood stage by late Sunday morning, according to the NWS.

The Ottawa County Sheriff's Office of Emergency Management is offering free sand bags to affected communities and residents. They can be picked up at the Sheriff's Offices in Robinson Township, Grand Haven Township, and the Village of Spring Lake during regular office hours. Grand Haven residents should contact the Department of Public Safety to obtain bags.

Sand bags should be filled just over halfway, allowing them to settle and fill voids in the wall, to be most effective.

Residents should report property damage to their local town or township hall.

In March 1997, the river crested at 15.6 feet.