After heavy rains in the US state of Michigan, around 10,000 people had to be brought to safety. The authorities announced on Tuesday evening (local time) that the Edenville and Sanford dams had broken in the Midland district due to the masses of water and ordered evacuations.
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Governor Gretchen Whitmer has declared the county a state of emergency. People should seek shelter in emergency shelters or stay with relatives or friends outside the district.
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Downtown Midland could be up to 2.7 meters under water in the coming hours. “We expect a historic high water level,” said Whitmer. The National Weather Service warned of extremely dangerous flash floods. Aerial photographs showed flooded streets and a burst dam along the Tittabawassee River.
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So far, no one has been injured, said a spokesman for the district administration according to CNN. Around 3500 houses have been cleared. However, accommodating so many citizens in emergency shelters is a challenge given the spread of the coronavirus. The people were equipped with face masks, the emergency services wore protective clothing.
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“Getting through this in the midst of a global pandemic is almost unimaginable. But we are here and we will do our best together,” said the governor. The National Guard help with the evacuation. Other states in the American Midwest have also been experiencing heavy rains for days.
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