WAKEFIELD -- In this segment of FOX UP's This Week in U.P. History, we go back to 2002 and remember some major flooding all across the Upper Peninsula.
On the week of April 14, 2002, a record meltdown made for one major mess and flood in the U.P. The problem was caused by heavy rainfall on top of an existing snow pack, followed by record warm temperatures. Rivers everywhere in the U.P. began spilling over their banks.
Runoff from the south branch of the Ontonagon River caused road closures, and areas all along Wakefield M-28 and US-2 were closed.
Michigan State Police rerouted all commercial and westbound traffic south on US-45 to Wisconsin.
Gogebic County was placed under a State of Emergency as a result of the flooding. In Wakefield alone, infrastructure damage was estimated at three to six million dollars. Countywide, the figure came to about $15 to $20 million.For more This Week in U.P. History segments, check out the 10 p.m. FOX UP News on Wednesday nights with David Fath and Gabriella DeLuca.
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