Flooding in Detroit area? (Sterling Heights, Livonia: real estate, buy, store)

[AlexandraDKat]

The news had a story about basements and streets flooding in Highland Park and Livonia. There was also something about Grosse Pointe Woods flooding.

Does the Detroit area get a lot of flooding every year or is this a pretty rare occurrence? Why does this happen? What areas get hit the most and the least?

We're planning a trip soon and hope to eventually buy a property but are scared about the flooding.

Thanks for your input.

[Retroit]

It's pretty rare for it to be as widespread as it was yesterday (and this morning). It's also pretty rare to have 5 waves of storms come through in one day.

...must be Global Warming.

[us66]

I had a real estate agent from Grosse Pointe Woods tell me about the basements in the area. He said they either have water problems or had water problems but were fixed. It's kind of expected around there. NE GPW has basement issues around the Milk River, too. In SE MI basements flood. It just happens.

[Coldjensens]

THey are not talking about Flooding like in Iowa and North Dakota. Flooding means some yards have standing water in them, some streets have little ponds in places. Basements flood when they are not properly built or when the drainage system plugs up. That can happen at any time, not just wen there is a lot of rain.
We do not have rivers overflowing or big watershed problems like many States out west and along the Missippi. Michigan has lots of water and is able to drain off a lot of rainfall.

[313Weather]

Originally Posted by AlexandraDKat

The news had a story about basements and streets flooding in Highland Park and Livonia. There was also something about Grosse Pointe Woods flooding.

Does the Detroit area get a lot of flooding every year or is this a pretty rare occurrence? Why does this happen? What areas get hit the most and the least?

We're planning a trip soon and hope to eventually buy a property but are scared about the flooding.

Thanks for your input.

Most of Detroit is relatively flood prone since it's 500 to 1000 ft above sea level.

Most of the flooding that took place yesterday was due to poor drainage because of the rainfall rates and sewage backup, which is common. It's virtually impossible for the city to ever become a river itself.

[AlexandraDKat]

Basically, doesn't that make the basement useless? Who would want to put anything, of value or not, down there (even a washer and dryer)? How would you even justify a finished basement if there's always the risk of flooding?

[Slappy san]

This is not the norm. We're talking about crazy rain systems rolling in.

[313Weather]

Originally Posted by 313Weather

Most of Detroit is relatively flood prone since it's 500 to 1000 ft above sea level.

Most of the flooding that took place yesterday was due to poor drainage because of the rainfall rates and sewage backup, which is common. It's virtually impossible for the city to ever become a river itself.

I meant NOT flood prone.

[us66]

Certain areas in Clinton and Macomb Townships as well as Sterling Heights have some flooding issues from the Clinton River. The Raisin down in Monroe County floods on occasion, too.

[Retroit]

Originally Posted by AlexandraDKat

Basically, doesn't that make the basement useless? Who would want to put anything, of value or not, down there (even a washer and dryer)? How would you even justify a finished basement if there's always the risk of flooding?

I've been wondering that my whole life. Most people just use it to store their junk that they probably didn't need in the first place. Or else they finish it off so they can take their guests down there (like as if I want to visit someone in their basement ). Or maybe it's because you have to dig down to build your foundation below the freeze line (3 feet?), so might as well make a basement out of it.