Floods are the most common natural disaster in Michigan, according to the Michigan State Police’s Michigan Hazard Mitigation Plan. They can be caused by rain, ice jams, snow or overflows from dams or other waterways.

Any area can flood. The Downtown Campus, in particular, is in the flood zone for the Grand River and for the Moores Park Dam, if it were to fail. During a flood at LCC, be sure to follow instructions given by LCC Alerts to your phone and email, Public Address announcements, and Building Emergency Response Team (BERT) members.

Be sure to protect your home from floods as well, using these tips from ready.gov:

• Keep important documents in a waterproof container. Create password-protected digital copies.
• Protect your property. Move valuables to higher levels. Declutter drains and gutters. Install check valves. Consider a sump pump with a battery.
• Know types of flood risk near your home. Visit FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center for information.
• Homeowner insurance policies typically do not cover flooding. If appropriate for your home, consider purchasing a flood insurance policy. Flooding is the number one natural hazard cost to Michigan each year, costing more than $100 million in property and crop damage each year.
• When driving or walking, do not try to pass through flood waters. Just one foot of moving water can sweep away a vehicle.

For more information about emergency preparedness at LCC, check out this video or browse our Emergency Preparedness Guide.