Macomb County issued the following announcement on Sept. 21.
With heavy rain in the forecast and a flood watch in effect for several counties including Macomb County until 8 a.m. Thursday, the Macomb County Public Works Office drain maintenance staff cleared debris Tuesday from major grates, including along Interstate 94 to reduce the risk of freeway flooding.
“As many commuters unfortunately experienced this summer, some portions of freeways in metropolitan Detroit flooded quickly, leaving many of them stranded,” Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice S. Miller said. “We’re trying to be proactive by getting out in front of this predicted multi-day rain event that’s expected to bring several inches of rain to the area.”
The Public Works crew pulled debris Tuesday from a grate at the Rohrbeck Drain, along westbound I-94 near the Roseville-St. Clair Shores border, to ensure flow is not impeded. Another drain maintenance member pulled debris from a grate in the Sterling Relief Drain just east of Van Dyke Avenue in Sterling Heights.
Meantime, officials also are urging residents and businesses to clear trash and other debris from the catch basins on their streets.
“Plastic bottles, bags, paper, leaves and other items clog the grates, blocking or severely restricting the flow of stormwater from reaching sewers. That can quickly result in neighborhood streets flooding,” Miller said.
Officials ask residents to not push debris through the grates. Instead, pick it up and toss it into a garbage can or trash bin.
“Keeping catch basins clean is always a good preventive step, eliminates litter and is an easy way to be good environmental stewards,” Miller said.
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