This yard in the Southeast Marble neighborhood flooded after a large rain storm last week. (Courtesy of Lynn Vidlund Schense)

City Crews Brace for Spring Storms as East Lansing Develops Flood Resiliency Plan

With spring’s official arrival only days away, the rain puddles have grown deeper and more common. Severe weather visited East Lansing late last week and if recent years are any indication, large storms will likely come again. In anticipation, East Lansing Info spoke with Alando Chappell with the city’s Department of Public Works to learn about efforts to keep up with the raindrops.

Significant rainfall last Friday created surface flooding in a number of areas in East Lansing, Chappell said, but mostly in areas of known concern. His team responded to those sectors and found that catch basin grates were often covered with leaves and debris.

“Making sure each property owner is bagging their leaves in the fall and not sweeping them into the street would be a tremendous help,” he said. “Residents can take advantage of the free yard waste pick up days and that will keep our streets and grates clear, reducing flood risk.”

Chappell said there was also a water main break on Friday that lasted until Sunday and a tree fell. 

“We’ve been in constant communication with the wastewater plant to monitor the flow,” he said. His team has been able to anticipate and monitor precipitation ahead of storms and stage crews in areas of concern.

The public works team works 12-hour shifts when storms are anticipated, Chappell said.

“We will be there in advance,” he said, “being proactive to make sure things are happening.”

For more than two years, the city has been developing a wet weather resiliency plan to help determine the biggest areas of concern for flooding in the city and projects that should be prioritized to remedy problems. The city began developing the plan after a series of widespread flooding events between 2021 and 2024 that brought significant damage to basements in East Lansing homes. 

The plan is expected to be presented to the community later in the spring. A virtual open house explaining the plan and collecting feedback from residents is available online.