River Stages 411

10/15/2019 (Permalink)

Beautiful Muskegon river in Michigan.

One of the many great things about living in Michigan is that we are surrounded by multiple bodies of water! Rushing rivers and winding streams make their way through our cities and towns and eventually pour into the great lakes. However, because so many rivers and streams flow through our towns, it is important for us to be informed about their water levels and be on the lookout for signs of potential flooding. An easy way to keep up with the water levels in Michigan’s rivers is to pay attention to their stages. According to weather.gov, a river stage refers to the level of the water surface in a river or stream. That being said, there are three different stages to be aware of: The bankfull stage, the action stage, and the flood stage.  

The bankfull stage is when a rise in water surface level causes the stream/river to overflow. It doesn’t necessarily mean flooding, but it does indicate that the higher water levels will spill over into the banks of the river.

The action stage refers to when a stream or river is raised high enough that some sort of mitigation efforts must be taken.

The last stage is the Flood stage, which is when the rise in water levels becomes dangerous and the water negatively impacts people and property. At this stage, flood warnings should be released.

Knowing these river stages, as well as paying attention to the weather forecast is a good way to stay informed on potential flooding situations. However, if you find yourself dealing with flood damage, call our experts at SERVPRO! We can make it “Like it never even happened.”

SERVPRO of Big Rapids/ Fremont specializes in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after Flood damage. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.

If you need help with cleaning up after Flood damage, call the Professionals at SERVPRO of Big Rapids/ Fremont! (231) 796-2342