Flood warning for Grand River in Portland extended until next week

PORTLAND - A flood warning for downtown Portland has been extended until Tuesday.

Ice jams that caused flooding in the Ionia County community are still in place and could cause the Grand River to rise rapidly, the National Weather Service said.

The flood warning had been set to expire on Friday afternoon.

River levels were stable on Friday, but officials planned to monitor them closely over the weekend, City Manager Tutt Gorman said in a Facebook update.

For now, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had decided against breaking up the ice with explosives or excavators because of the size of the jams, Gorman said.

"Unfortunately, this will be a prolonged event that will undoubtedly cause emotional fatigue for city residents directly impacted," Gorman said. "The city will take all actions within its authority to facilitate the available resources to those in need during this event and throughout the recovery process." 

Some Portland residents were evacuated when ice jams on the Grand River caused severe flooding a week ago. The floodwaters closed three bridges in the city, limiting travel and raising concerns about long-term damage to the structures. 

On Wednesday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency in Ionia County, freeing up more state resources to aid flood recovery efforts in Portland.

County officials asked for the emergency declaration after determining they need the state's help to avert crises in Portland and Belding, where an ice storm caused extensive power outages, Whitmer's office said.

More:Emergency declaration could help Portland recover from severe flooding

More:Portland official: Residents can return, but 'know it could happen again'

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Contact Ken Palmer at (517) 377-1032 or kpalmer@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBPalm_lsj.