Flooding State of Emergency: April 20 Update
Published on April 17, 2026
The City of Kalamazoo declared a local state of emergency on April 17, 2026, following widespread damage and property loss caused by prolonged rainfall, saturated soil, elevated river and creek levels, and ongoing flooding conditions. Governor Gretchen Whitmer added the City of Kalamazoo to Michigan’s State of Emergency Declaration on Friday as well.
As of Sunday, April 19, water levels from the Kalamazoo River and Portage Creek continue to rise slightly. Water levels also are expected to begin decreasing and continue the trend throughout the week, which is encouraging news. Morrow Dam near Galesburg remains in a high-flow stage but is operating as expected with no known issues. The dam is being continuously monitored 24 hours a day. The National Weather Service also predicts the Kalamazoo area to receive only 1/10” of rain within the coming three days and ¼” to ½” precipitation of rain over the next seven days. The rain is mostly predicted at the end of the week.
Numerous homes throughout Kalamazoo have experienced basement flooding and water intrusion due to abnormally high groundwater levels. Kalamazoo residents are strongly encouraged to check their basements and homes for signs of flooding or water intrusion. Residents are also urged to avoid areas that have unusually high collections of water, such as ponds in backyard, and keep children from newly formed bodies of water. If flooding is identified, residents are asked to report it using the City’s self-reporting survey at the following link: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/6e1d8996f0704b9fab5395eecd63a65e
This reporting tool feeds directly to Kalamazoo Emergency Management and helps the City assess impacts and allocate resources effectively.
Homes that have already used the reporting tool will be assisted by Public Services crews and Public Safety to provide basement dewatering assistance and additional evaluation.
To assist residents in protecting their homes, sandbag distribution sites are available at the following locations:
- Northside Association for Community Development (NACD), 612 N Park St
- Douglass Community Association, 1000 W Paterson St
- Edison Neighborhood Association, 816 Washington Ave
Residents may obtain free sandbags to help mitigate water intrusion, particularly around basement entry points and foundation cracks.
Additionally, the Michigan State Police Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division is coordinating the distribution of cleanup kits for affected residents. Individuals in need of cleanup supplies should call 211 to request assistance.
City of Kalamazoo officials continue to monitor conditions closely and will provide updates as necessary. Residents are urged to remain vigilant and take proactive steps to protect their property.
For additional information and updates, please monitor official City of Kalamazoo communication channels, including the Kalamazoo City Emergency Management Facebook page.