In photos: Thousands of homes destroyed after Michigan floods

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.

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
Residents explore West Curtis Road bridge on May 20 in Edenville, Michigan. Photo: Matthew Hatcher/Getty Images
The Tittabawassee River in Sanford, Michigan, on May 20. Photo: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Floodwaters from the Tittabawassee River in downtown Midland on May 20. Photo: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Residents lift U.S. flag on May 21 in Sanford, Michigan. Photo: Seth Herald/AFP via Getty Images
A car in Sanford, Michigan, on May 21. Photo: Seth Herald/AFP via Getty Images
A roof of a home in Sanford, Michigan, on May 21. Photo: Seth Herald/AFP via Getty Images
School buses left by floodwaters in Sanford, Michigan, on May 21. Photo: Seth Herald/AFP via Getty Images

Go deeper: Trump eases up on threat to withhold funding to Michigan over mail-in ballots

Go deeper

Marisa Fernandez
Aug 28, 2020 - Politics & Policy

In photos: Thousands gather at Lincoln Memorial to protest police brutality

"Commitment March: Get Your Knee Off Our Necks" protest against racism and police brutality. Photo: Eric Baradat/AFP via Getty Images

Two generations of Kings spoke at the Lincoln Memorial Friday as part of the March on Washington that honored the 57th anniversary of MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech.

The big picture: Black people are reeling after a summer that opened with the police killing of George Floyd and is closing with the police shooting of Jacob Blake, who was paralyzed and spent time handcuffed to a hospital bed after being shot seven times in the back.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Kyle Daly, Ashley Gold
46 mins ago - Technology

Parties trade election influence accusations at Big Tech hearing

Photo: Michael Reynolds/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

A Senate hearing Wednesday with Big Tech CEOs became the backdrop for Democrats and Republicans to swap accusations of inappropriate electioneering.

Why it matters: Once staid tech policy debates are quickly becoming a major focal point of American culture and political wars, as both parties fret about the impact of massive social networks being the new public square.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Ursula Perano
48 mins ago - World

Germany goes back into lockdown

Photo: Fabrizio Bensch/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will enact one of Europe's strictest coronavirus lockdowns since spring, closing bars and restaurants nationwide for most of November, Reuters reports.

Why it matters: Germany is the latest European country to reimpose some form of lockdown measures amid a surge in cases across the continent.

Go deeper (<1 min. read)Arrow