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Dear Neighbor,

This past Saturday, Governor Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency in Wayne County to help address threats to public health and safety related to heavy rainfall, which resulted in widespread flooding, power outages, flooded roadways, stranded motorists, flooding of homes, and displaced residents. A critical step in being approved for FEMA disaster relief funds is each of our local cities/township MUST submit their damage assessments to Wayne County as soon as possible.

Yesterday, I surveyed damages in some 13th District Strong communities with Governor Whitmer. It was incredibly painful to see homes, roads and neighborhoods under water. I know it is for you too. So we have got to work together to get our District past the required damage threshold in order for federal FEMA assistance to be triggered and released—we need your help! 

Again, FEMA assistance has not been triggered, but I will be sure to update you when it is.

Below are the local numbers you can call to report flood damages. Please leave your name, address, and phone number clearly if it goes to voicemail—this is only the first step to get our communities the support they need. 

ECORSE: (313) 386-2520 | Fill out a Sewer Backup Form here. 

DEARBORN HEIGHTS: (313) 943-3030 | Fill out an online 2021 Flood Assistance Form here.

DETROIT: (313) 267-8000 | Submit Detroit Water & Sewerage Department damages and sewage backups info here.

GARDEN CITY: (734) 793-1800 | Contact the City online to receive flood packet if you have experienced flooding here.

HIGHLAND PARK: (313) 252-0050 Ext. 242 or 255 | Complete "Wayne County Flood Feedback" form from State Representative Helena Scott (District 7 - Highland Park and a portion of Detroit) here. 

INKSTER: (313) 395-3050 | Fill out a 2021 Flood Damage Report here.

MELVINDALE: Call the Water Department at (313) 429-1064 or the police department at (313) 429-1070 [In case of emergency, press 2].

REDFORD TOWNSHIP: Call the Water Department at (313) 387-2670 M-F, 8:30AM-4:30PM | Outside of Water Department hours of operation, call police department at (313) 387-2553 | Fill out a SEWER DISPOSAL OR STORM WATER SYSTEM EVENT Form here.

RIVER ROUGE: (313) 842-4803

ROMULUS: (734) 942-7579

WAYNE: (734) 721-8600

WESTLAND: Contact the Mayor's office at (734) 467-3200 or the City Finance Department at 734) 467-3169 | Please fill out damage assessment and incident forms here and return to the Westland City Hall Finance Department as soon as possible.

Other Resources 

• Disaster contact info for Wayne County Communities can be found here.
• For questions on flooding contamination or cleanup contact Wayne County Public Health Division Environmental Health Unit at (734) 727-7400. 
• United Way for Southeastern Michigan: call 2-1-1 if you need assistance. 
• American Red Cross: If you are in immediate need of help, you can contact the Red Cross at 1-800-RED-CROSS. 
• Aside from the rain, the heat and humidity are also an issue, especially for those who lose power. If you need help staying cool, please visit the Detroit Health Department website at detroitmi.gov/health or call the Detroit Health Department at (313) 876-4000. 
• DTE: To report a power outage or a downed powerline, you can call DTE’s 24-hour phone number at 800 477-4747 or report online at DTE Outage Center.
• If you or a loved one are stranded on a freeway or other roadway during a flooding event, please call 9-1-1 for help. Law enforcement encourages you to call and ask for help once and not call again for an ETA due to the heavy volume of calls. 

Additional Safety Tips 

Preparing for a Flood 

• Create an emergency preparedness kit with a 72-hour supply of water, including three gallons per person. 
• Scan and store important documents on an online, cloud-based program. 
• Put important documents and valuables in a water-proof container on the top floor of your home. 
• Understand how to safely turn off electricity and gas lines in your home. 
  Create an inventory of your household items and take photos of the interior and exterior of your home. 
• Consider installing sewer backflow valves to prevent flood water from backing up into your home through drainpipes. 
• Double-check sump pumps to ensure they are working properly. If possible, have a battery backup system. 
• Keep materials like sandbags, plywood, plastic sheeting and lumber handy for emergency waterproofing. 
• Find out how many feet your property is above and below flood levels. When predicted flood levels are broadcast, you can determine if you may be flooded. 
• Rise or flood-proof heating, ventilating and air conditioning equipment by elevating equipment above areas prone to flooding. Another method is to leave equipment where it is and build a concrete or masonry block flood wall around it. 
• Anchor fuel tanks. Unanchored fuel tanks can be easily moved by floodwaters.

During a Flood 

• Turn off utilities if instructed to do so. Disconnect all electrical equipment. 
• Do not walk-through moving water. Six inches is enough water to knock you down. 
• Do not drive in flooded areas. Six inches of water can cause you to lose control and two feet of water can sweep away your car. Remember: Turn around, don’t drown. 
• Listen to local media reports for information about if the water supply is safe to drink. 
• Avoid contacting flood waters because they can be contaminated by hazardous liquids and may contain sharp debris. 
• Report and stay 25 feet away from downed power lines.

Driving in Flood Conditions 

• Six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars causing loss of control and stalling. A foot of water will float many vehicles. 
• Two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles including sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and pickups trucks. 
• Do not attempt to drive through a flooded road. The depth of water is not always obvious.
• The roadbed may be washed out under the water, and you could be stranded or trapped. 
• Do not drive around a barricade. Barricades are there for your protection. Turn around and go the other way. 
• Do not try to take short cuts—they may be blocked. Stick to designated routes. 
• Be especially cautious driving at night when it is harder to recognize flood dangers. 
• To report a road hazard or an environmental issue, residents may utilize Wayne County's hotlines or visit us online at www.waynecounty.com.
  • 1-888-ROAD-CREW (1-888-762-3273)
  • Report a road hazard 24/7
  • 1-888-223-2363
  • Environmental emergency hotline

Never forget that throughout this or any other emergency, my (virtual) door is always open to you. Be sure to contact us if you have any questions or need assistance, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for other updates. 

Sincerely,

Rashida Tlaib
Member of Congress

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