May 21, 2020 - Energy & Environment

In photos: Thousands of homes destroyed after Michigan floods

Orion Rummler

In this image, a man in a yellow caution vest walks down the middle of a highway — A man walks across West Saginaw Road in Sanford, Michigan, on May 21. Photo: Seth Herald/AFP via Getty Images

Thousands of homes are flooded and destroyed in central Michigan in the aftermath of two dams breaching in Midland County on Tuesday.

The big picture: Michigan is one of few states in the country that has not yet fully reopened amid the coronavirus pandemic — it is set to reopen May 29. But in the midst of trying to keep people socially distanced to fight the spread of the virus, over 10,000 people were forced to evacuate amid the flooding.

No injuries or deaths related to the flooding have been reported, per AP.
Michigan ranks seventh in the country for reporting the most confirmed coronavirus cases — over 53,000, per Johns Hopkins. The state has reported over 5,000 coronavirus deaths.

What's next: Most affected areas in Michigan will see water recede within the next few days, per the National Weather Service. However, some communities — including Grand Rapids — will endure worsening floods through Friday, the agency said.

In this image, a man pulls a boat out of a river — Neil Hawk and his wife Dawn take a rowboat to a residential part of Sanford to inspect damage to their neighborhood on May 20. Photo: Matthew Hatcher/Getty Images

In this image, a woman stands in the middle of a buckled and broken road — Residents explore West Curtis Road bridge on May 20 in Edenville, Michigan. Photo: Matthew Hatcher/Getty Images

This is an aerial shot of flooded homes and woodland — The Tittabawassee River in Sanford, Michigan, on May 20. Photo: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

This is an aerial shot of a flooded bridge — Floodwaters from the Tittabawassee River in downtown Midland on May 20. Photo: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

In this image, two people lift a large muddy American flag — Residents lift U.S. flag on May 21 in Sanford, Michigan. Photo: Seth Herald/AFP via Getty Images

In this image, a car is overturned in the woods — A car in Sanford, Michigan, on May 21. Photo: Seth Herald/AFP via Getty Images

In this image, a dislodged roof sits between two houses — A roof of a home in Sanford, Michigan, on May 21. Photo: Seth Herald/AFP via Getty Images

In this image, two school buses are in a field — School buses left by floodwaters in Sanford, Michigan, on May 21. Photo: Seth Herald/AFP via Getty Images

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