Dam failures flood Michigan town

About 10,000 people had to evacuate from communities along the Tittabawassee River in central Michigan on Tuesday. By Wednesday morning, several feet of water covered some streets in downtown Midland, Mich., as the river rose to a record level of 34.4 feet, with more flooding expected throughout the day.

What caused the flooding? The National Weather Service warned people near the river to seek higher ground following “catastrophic dam failures” at the Edenville and Sanford dams. The state has had heavy rain since Sunday, and both dams had ongoing quality problems. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency for Midland County.

Dig deeper: Follow updates at the National Weather Service website.