URGENT: NWS Marquette issues Flood Warning – Chocolay River Mouth Flooding Alert; Some evacuations; while some residents are apparently trapped by the rising, freezing flood waters

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National Weather Service Marquette issues Flood Warning 5:36 a.m. on final day of 2017: 

Flood Warning
National Weather Service Marquette MI
536 AM EST SUN DEC 31 2017

MIC103-312215-
/O.NEW.KMQT.FA.W.0002.171231T1036Z-171231T2215Z/
/00000.0.IJ.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Marquette MI-
536 AM EST SUN DEC 31 2017

The National Weather Service in Marquette has issued a

* Flood Warning for…
An Ice Jam in…
East central Marquette County in north central Upper Michigan…
at the mouth of the Chocolay River.

* Until 515 PM EST Sunday

* At 500 AM EST, Marquette county central dispatch reported flooding
is occurring in Harvey at the mouth of the Chocolay River due to
an ice jam at the mouth of the Chocolay River.

Flooding is occurring now on Bayou street and local law enforcement
is currently evacuating residents on Bayou street. River levels are
rising at an estimated half inch per hour and additional flooding
may occur along the Chocolay River plain between Lake Superior and
highway M-28 until the ice jam breaks. Residents should monitor
river levels and be prepared to take quick action if waters rise.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Turn around, don`t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles. Be especially cautious at night as it is
harder to recognize the dangers of flooding.

Please report flooding to your local law enforcement agency when you
can do so safely.

A Flood Warning means that flooding is occurring. Take necessary
precautions immediately!

 

5:53 a.m. 12-31-17 update – It appears several residents have been helped out of their homes by emergency officials. Officials will keep an eye on the situation to decide whether more evacuations will be needed later today.

Scroll down for radar image at 5:40 a.m. and latest lake-effect snow warning

URGENT 5 a.m. ET  12-31-17 Urgent Update from officials on the scene this New Year’s Eve day:
The Chocolay River is rising at a rate of half an inch per hour – 8 inches (16 hours at that rate) from reaching train tracks on main street at “railroad trestle”

At this rate of rising water, officials have plenty of time to wait until daylight – and carefully execute their next move

These images were taken late Saturday night, Dec. 30, 2017.  Credit: MODIS Imagery – NOAA Great Lakes CoastWatch

MODIS Imagery – NOAA Great Lakes CoastWatch

 

Mqt Radar at 5:30 a.m. 12-31-17

 

URGENT-URGENT-URGENT 12-31-17 – 4:24 a.m. Lake Superior Ice Jams Trigger Flooding on Chocolay River – some residents trapped by freezing moving water – others evacuating

File photo of previous Chocolay River Flood

By Greg Peterson
U.P. Breaking News
Owner, News Director
906-273-2433

**If there are flood waters outside your house – do not walk into the water – call 911.

(Chocolay Township, MI) – The residents along the mouth of the Chocolay River are reporting flooding – caused by Ice Jams where the river meets Lake Superior.

A resident at 165 Bayou Street said the water is “knee deep across the road.”

The flooding was first reported about 4:15 a.m. ET, today Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017.

“Some significant flooding” is occurring now in streets around the mouth of Chocolay River.

Flooding appears to be only in the areas/streets immediately around mouth of the river for now.
Officials say some residents appear stuck in their homes. It is too dangerous to walk in the rising, moving and ice cold river.

Among those assessing how to get to residents are Marquette County Sheriff’s Department Special Operations Unit, the Chocolay Township Police Department, the Chocolay Township Volunteer Fire Department – and others are likely to be called like search and rescue – and Rescue Squad 131.