Some Forced Out Of Homes As Grand River Waters Continue To Rise

Right now, the Grand River Dam Authority has seven gates open at the Pensacola Dam and is opening more to release flood waters, but it’s putting more people, downriver, in danger of flooding.

The new Highway 82 Bridge that crosses the Grand River is closed due to flooding and several people have voluntarily evacuated their home because of the high water.

After a weekend full of record rainfall, the 75-year-old Pensacola Dam is roaring. The lake levels are getting too high and the GRDA is forced to open floodgates and send water downstream.

12/28/2015 Related Story: GRDA: People Below Pensacola, Kerr Dams Should Prepare To Evacuate

Watching all the water leave Grand Lake is a sight to see for many, including Monkey Island resident, Ben Jackson.

"This summer we had a big flood, it was nothing like this as far as water coming on in a 24-hour period," he said.

More than 11 gates are open from the Pensacola Dam to the spillway on the other side of Disney.

The GRDA alerted homeowners downstream about floodgates opening; Regnda Crippen and her husband had to leave when the waters got too high.

"GRDA and told us they were getting ready to open more gates and that's what we have," she said.

She is just watching and hoping she can get back into her home before her belongings are lost.

"I don't know, it's sad we weren't really able to get everything out that I would like to have gotten; just hoping that it stays on its foundation,” said Crippen.

Crippen's neighbor, Jay Patterson, is playing the waiting game and is prepared to leave everything in his home behind if needed.

"I'm glad they warned the people it hasn't been in our house yet, but this is the highest I've ever seen it," he said.

Patterson said this is the second time he's seen flooding near his home in the past eight years of living off of Highway 82 and the Grand River; he can't believe that his neighbors' homes are taking on water.

“They've got about a foot of water in their house now and they got it last spring too. I've got fish in my yard," Patterson said.

The GRDA said, right now, evacuations are voluntary.