Grand Rapids Flood 2013

Yesterday Matt and I were lucky enough to go out alone for an hour or so and take pictures of the flood here in Grand Rapids. (It would have been pretty insane trying to bring our two wild things along!)  It's a pretty crazy sight in our city, to see so many things under water, also one that we probably won't see in our lifetime again.  There were people everywhere downtown, out sightseeing and checking out history in the making...

We were out from around 4-6 and the Grand River hadn't yet crested.  I believe it ended up cresting at 10 pm last night, a little lower than anticipated at almost 22 feet.

The Rockford Dam.  The bridge has been closed due to concerns of safety.

The stairs leading down into the river under the Dam.  There is usually dry land down there to walk on.

My favorite house on W. River right near the intersection of W. River and Northland.

The park on W. River.  Matt usually puts the boat in here to go fishing.  No dock in sight now.

Same park on W. River.  The dock is to the left of the road closed sign, somewhere.

Rockford High School's boathouse on Jupiter near W. River.  I bet they never guessed they'd be able to row right out of the garage.

The fence along Jupiter right near the boathouse.

This house can be seen right from the bridge over the Grand River on Jupiter.  Water up to the middle of their lower floor windows!

Right next to the Jupiter Bridge.

A view of the Jupiter Bridge from the street that runs down to the river houses.

Riverside Park, the parking lot across from the Veteran's Home.

Riverside Park, the trail that I usually walk on.  Everything is under water.  Notice the height of the water compared to the signs in the background.

This train has been parked over the bridge (and filled with salt) to keep the bridge from being swept away by the strength of the river.

Another view of the train from Matt's work.

The sandbags at Matt's work.  Their building is right along the river and they were trying to keep it from flooding should the water make it that far.  Their building is flooding from the foundation though, the elevator shaft was completely full on the bottom level and had to be pumped out.

The Fish Ladder.   These are the steps that you use to walk down to the river to look at it...

No more dam in the Grand River.  If the fish could swim through the current in the water they'd be very happy to easily make it up stream.

The Fish Ladder...

Currents next to the deck on the Fish Ladder...

6th Street Bridge.  Look at how high the water level is compared to the bridge!!!