Flash Flood in Oakland County, Michigan

A historic rainfall event unfolded over Southeast Michigan on Monday, August 11, leading to major flooding and road closures. This event was caused by a strengthening low pressure system moving over the area, focusing the tropical moisture which came up from the south. The hardest hit areas included Metro Detroit and surrounding communities, along with Flint and the Saginaw Valley areas. Wayne, Southern Oakland and Macomb counties saw the worst of the flooding as 4 to 6 inches of rain fell over a 4 hour period. Around 75,000 homes and businesses suffered damage, with over 3000 suffering major damage. There was also damage to the roads and bridges, along with the city sewer pumps which were overwhelmed by the torrential rainfall. Total estimated dollar loss from the Detroit Metro area was 1.8 billion dollars. Farther north, across parts of Saginaw, Bay, and Genesee counties, flooding was not nearly as bad, but flooded roads with 2 to 3 feet of water were reported.