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Emergency manager says rising waters force evacuations, sandbagging across Alpena County
Summary
Emergency manager Nick Madrinsky told the board that high water has prompted evacuations between Selena and Long Rapids, deployment of DPW crews and 1,150 sandbags, and that Red Cross and more than 70 volunteers are on standby to assist.
Emergency manager Nick Madrinsky told the Alpena County Board on April 14 that rising river levels and dam operations have prompted local evacuations and an active county response.
"The dam's got over an inch of water…there's five gates open right now on Ninth Street," Madrinsky said, describing gate releases that have raised water levels in low‑lying areas. He said DPW crews handed out about 1,150 sandbags and the sheriff's department provided a sandbag filler machine to speed distribution.
Madrinsky said residents were evacuating along the river corridor between Selena and the village of Long Rapids; crews evacuated three residents from a low area near the golf course, using a lift truck to remove an elderly couple when roads flooded. He added that the county has barricaded sections of Golf Course Road and Genshaw near Zuck Park to block access to flooded areas.
Officials have prepared temporary shelter options: the Friendship Room at St. Bernard's and other local facilities were offered but, as of Madrinsky's update, had not been utilized. He said Red Cross was on standby and "70 plus volunteers" were ready to support Alpena area operations if conditions worsen.
Commissioners asked for a precise count of evacuated homes; Madrinsky said he believed there were "at least 10" known evacuations and that he would follow up with an exact tally. He also said county staff is updating state tracking systems (SEMS) and coordinating with fire chiefs and the sheriff's office for ongoing checks.
The county did not announce any mandatory countywide sheltering; Madrinsky urged residents in low‑lying areas to follow local evacuation notices and contact county emergency personnel for updates.
Next steps: county emergency personnel will continue daily status updates to the board; Madrinsky said he was actively surveying affected roads and would provide numbers on evacuations and shelter use when available.
