Photo by Wendy Martin A large section of Heythaler Highway in Presque Isle County collapsed from the local flooding in Northeast Michigan. Damaged roads and rising flood water have stranded some people in their homes and first responders have had to rescue them. Dozens of roads in Northeast Michigan have washed out and police are warning people to not drive through standing water.

ALPENA — At Tuesday’s Alpena County Finance, Ways, and Means committee meeting, Nick Modrzynski updated board members on the severity of flooding in the county.

He told The News that the county is monitoring conditions and is prepared to evacuate residences if flooding worsens.

At the time of the meeting, Modrzynski said 10 homes in Alpena County had been evacuated. He told The News that he’d have to confer with fire chiefs from the townships before giving a full estimate as to how many residences have been evacuated throughout the county.

Modrzynski said that Golf Course Road and the roads behind Perch’s IGA had been impacted significantly by the flooding that Alpena County has experienced within the past few days.

Modrzynski explained that one rescue which was conducted in Long Rapids Township first responders had to use an air boat to reach the residence.

At another evacuation Modrzynski was present at, he said that he was surprised as to how deep the running water was at the residence. He said that people should not assume how deep flowing water is and avoid it as best as they can.

“If you see running water, you don’t know how deep it is,” he said. “We are asking people to not take that chance.”

Looking ahead, Modrzynski said that the county is monitoring incoming weather systems that may exacerbate Northeast Michigan’s flooding concerns. He said that if conditions worsen, the county may open the Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

“If it gets worse, we will evacuate more people,” he added. “The state is aware of what is going on.”

As of Tuesday afternoon, Modrzynski said that the EOC was not open, but the county was prepared to change that status as needed.

“I think with everything that is going on, we are doing the best that we can,” he said.

Modrzynski explained that shelters around the county are prepared for use and volunteers and the Red Cross are prepared, as well.

Modrzynski added that Alpena County residents are accustomed to annual, spring flooding but not to the extent residents have experienced within the last week.

“We know this happens … it’s just not this bad,” he said.

He stated that first responders are “very well equipped” to respond to emergencies even amid significant levels of flooding.

Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.