EVACUATE NOW! | Newaygo County Emergency Services issues evacuation notice for those in Muskegon River Floodplain below Croton Dam

NEWAYGO COUNTY, Mich — Newaygo County Emergency Services are directing anyone remaining in the Muskegon River Floodplain below the Croton Dam to evacuate now!

Newaygo County Sheriff Bob Mendham told 13 ON YOUR SIDE that there is no concern about the stability of the Croton Dam. Mendham said that deputies from sheriff’s office are going door to door to alert and help evacuate residents.

Newaygo County Emergency Services has issued the following announcement:

UPDATE 1 – April 16, 26 at 8:45 AM

• Water levels continue to rapidly rise on the Muskegon River. Anyone remaining in the floodplain below Croton Dam is directed to Evacuate NOW.  
• Public safety personnel are checking all impacted areas to ensure residents have left the area. 
• Anyone choosing to remain in the floodplain, public safety services will no longer be available until conditions become safe to respond. 
• Impacted areas should expect power to be disconnected in order to protect their property and the electrical grid. 
• All Public River Access Sites along the Muskegon River below Croton are CLOSED due to unsafe conditions.
• The Public River Access Sites along the White River near the Hesperia Dam are CLOSED due to unsafe conditions.
• Those choosing to drive around barricades or walking in areas which are posted as closed may be cited and or arrested. 

A Flash Flood Watch remains in effect for the White River below the Hesperia Dam. 

GO – EVACUATE NOW IF YOU LIVE WITHIN THE AREA IMPACTED!  If you have not done so already, evacuate now. This is a rapidly developing situation. Watch for rapidly changing water levels. Evacuate now. 

• Evacuation Center is available at Newaygo County Commission on Aging located at 93 S Gibbs in White Cloud. 
• Please call 2-1-1 for general support
• Please call 9-1-1 if you have an emergency

WHITE RIVER – WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW
Local officials and emergency management report water continues to rise rapidly on the White River in Hesperia. Water is currently flowing over the spillway of the Hesperia Dam, and may soon begin overtopping the dam itself. Water is already impacting the structure of the Division Street bridge upstream of the dam.MUSKEGON RIVER WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW

Three USGS Streamgages are used to determine the river levels.  

As of 9:00 am, the Muskegon River near

• MAJOR FLOOD STAGE: USGS Croton Streamgage was at 12.07 feet with flows at 13,300 cubic feet per second. Flood stage is at 9.0 feet.
• MAJOR FLOOD STAGE: USGS Newaygo Streamgage was at 15.58 feet with flows at 11,300 cubic feet per second. Flood stage is at 11.0 feet.
• MAJOR FLOOD STAGE: USGS Bridgeton Streamgage was at 16.56 feet with flows at 10,300 cubic feet per second. Flood stage is at 13.0 feet.  

Current levels can be viewed here: https://water.noaa.gov/wfo/grr 

• Anticipate the following areas to be impacted by flood waters on the Muskegon River
  • Leisure Land Subdivision in Bridgeton Township
  • Sycamore Flats in Ashland Township
  • 100th Ave in Ashland Township
  • Old Women’s Bend in Garfield Township
  • Anderson Flat’s in Garfield Township
  • Fright Hill in Bridgeton Township
  • Homesite Park in Bridgeton Township
  • River Ridge in Ashland Township
  • Bell Meadow Drive in Bridgeton Township
  • Devil’s Hole in Brooks Township
  • Sarrell Street in the City of Newaygo

The following roads are temporarily closed due to washouts/water over the roadway as of 3:00 PM 04/15/2026. Please find an alternate route:

• Division Street Bridge (Maple Island Road) in the Village of Hesperia
• Lee Ave. south of Lake Dr. in Sheridan Township. Culvert failure.
• Osborn Ave. south of 32nd St. in Dayton Township.
• Ramshorn Dr. south of 32nd St. in Dayton Township.
• Luce Ave. north of 32nd St. in Dayton/Sherman Township.
• Comstock Ave. near Adams St. in Denver Township.
• Baldwin Ave between Baseline and 8th in Sherman Township
• 112th between Fitzgearld and Dickinson in Bridgeton Township
• Bridge Street Bridge in City of Newaygo

MUSKEGON RIVER WHAT TO EXPECT

• Based on the current forecast, it is expected to see MAJOR FLOODING on the Muskegon River, with river levels cresting on Friday, April 17 – Saturday, April 18
• Expect flooding conditions similar to if not a little worse than the April 2014 Flood.
• Expect Maple Island Bridge to be closed if river levels reach over 17.0 Feet at Bridgeton

WHITE RIVER WHAT TO EXPECT

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should Flash Flood Warnings be issued. Dam safety experts with state and local emergency services are monitoring the dam and will issue a public statement as conditions warrant. PLAN NOW so you will know what to do in an emergency. Keep informed by listening to local radio and television for statements and possible warnings. Follow the advice of public safety officials.FLOODING SAFETY

• Turn Around, Don’t Drown! ®
• Avoid walking or driving through flood waters.
• Do not drive over bridges that are over fast-moving floodwaters. Floodwaters can scour foundation material from around the footings and make the bridge unstable.
• Just 6 inches of moving water can knock you down, and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away.
• If there is a chance of flash flooding, move immediately to higher ground.
• If floodwaters rise around your car but the water is not moving, abandon the car and move to higher ground. Do not leave the car and enter moving water.

• ONLY CALL 9-1-1 TO REPORT EMERGENCIES!   Emergency operators and phone lines are needed to support this incident, please continue to monitor Nixle for updates or call 2-1-1 (not 9-1-1) for general safety information.
• ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WILL BE RELEASED!   Continue monitoring your radio, Nixle, and Newaygo ES’s Facebook Page for additional information.
• THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION!     

Continuing Information Will Be Released Via NIXLE

Newaygo County Emergency Services is coordinating with Consumers Energy and the National Weather Service Grand Rapids Office to actively monitor the changing conditions and communicate information out to residences impacted by the rising floodwaters. As the situation changes, additional information will be released by the Newaygo County Emergency Operations Center utilizing Nixle. Please visit http://www.nixle.com/ to register for alerts and view emergency information for where you live.

EVACUATE NOW! Those remaining in the Muskegon River Floodplain below Croton are directed to evacuated now!