Full Answer
Residents in the area, as well as businesses, might lose everything as a result of these floods. Surrounding areas include Midland, Beaverton, Saginaw, and other areas affected by the flood.
All lawsuits request recoverable damages from the party liable for the harm.
Thousands of Midland area homes and businesses were evacuated due to failing Edenville and Sanford dams that have flooded the surrounding areas. The devastation and damage are unparalleled and Governor Gretchen Whitmer has declared a state of emergency.
Boyce Hydro Power has history of violations for approximately 14 years, according to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The commission had repeatedly raised concerns about the dam’s ability to prevent flooding during extreme conditions because of its inadequate spillway capacity.
The Edenville Dam, located on the border of Midland County and Gladwin County, failed late on May 19, 2020. The Sanford Lake Dam subsequently failed the same afternoon.
Negligence can be proven by records and inspections showing the lack of proper maintenance, the failure to comply with state regulations, and the failure to regularly inspect the dam for the likelihood of failure.
A dam failure can cause serious damage to the major infrastructures of the surrounding area. This can include roads, highways, utilities, public transportation, and recreational areas.
A week after devastating flooding in mid-Michigan, four homeowners filed a new class-action lawsuit, this one against Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy claiming mismanagement of the Edenville dam.
Jim Sperling, an Edenville Township trustee, said a local authority, the Four Lakes Task Force, was set up in 2019 by Midland and Gladwin counties to oversee the maintenance and operations of four dams, including Edenville, and lakes.
Water Damage to Property. Heavy rain, flooding and other events can do serious damage to a person’s home; the cost to repair the damage can run to the thousands of dollars. The law may offer protection against some types of water damage depending on the source of the damage and whether a homeowner has homeowners’ insurance. ...
However, if a neighbor’s careless act causes an artificial diversion of water to a person’s property, the person may recover money damages from the neighbor for any harm caused .
A property owner can get natural disaster insurance to cover damages caused by these “acts of god,” such as floods and earthquakes. Natural disaster insurance can cover: Mold damage; Walls and insulation; The cost of a motel for temporary relocation.
Under this rule of law, landowners can take whatever steps they wish to prevent and protect their land from surface and runoff water; The Civil Law Rule: This rule imposes liability on any landowner who changes their land in a way that alters the natural flow of water across the land.
Usually when a person experiences water damage, they look to their homeowner’s insurance (or renter’s insurance or condominium insurance) to cover the cost of repairing the damage. If the person submits a claim to their homeowner’s insurance, whether their insurance will pay to repair the damage depends on the language in their insurance policy.
So, even if a person’s homeowner’s policy covers water damage, it does not cover damage caused by slow, gradual leaking. Rather an insurance policy covers damage caused by sudden and accidental events. A person’s defense against slow, gradual leaks is proper maintenance and regular inspections of the key components in their home, for example:
There are several types of water damage that may or may not be covered by a person’s insurance, such as: Sudden or accidental discharge from pipes or hoses in the home; Sewer backup and overflow or water backup; Overflow or leaking from a home appliance, e.g. malfunctioning washing machine or dishwasher;