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Grand Blanc Today
By the People, for the People
Genesee County Residents Demand Fix For Ongoing Flooding Problems
Residents say flooding keeps coming back year after year, damaging homes and raising concerns about property values.
Apr. 8, 2026 at 1:39pm
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Residents in Genesee County, Michigan say they are fed up with recurring flooding issues that have been plaguing their neighborhoods for nearly a decade. Homeowners in Grand Blanc Township describe how heavy rains regularly cause their backyards to flood with several feet of standing water, damaging basements and raising concerns about declining property values. Officials cite aging infrastructure, including a 1939 drain extension, as part of the problem, but residents say they want to see real action and solutions rather than just studies.
Why it matters
The persistent flooding in Genesee County highlights the growing challenges communities face in maintaining aging stormwater management systems, especially as extreme weather events become more common. Unresolved flooding issues can have significant financial and emotional impacts on homeowners, as well as broader implications for local property values and the county's economic development.
The details
In Grand Blanc Township, one homeowner named Jim Short says the recent flooding was the worst he's ever seen, with about four feet of standing water in his backyard at one point. Short says this type of flooding has been happening multiple times per year for the past decade, and the drainage system that's supposed to move water out of the area actually runs right through his backyard, causing water to back up and spread across yards instead of draining properly.
- The recent heavy rain that caused the latest round of flooding occurred over the past weekend.
- Short says the flooding issues in his neighborhood have been ongoing for about a decade now.
The players
Jim Short
A homeowner in Grand Blanc Township who has experienced severe flooding in his backyard multiple times per year for the past decade.
Genesee County Drain Commission
The local government agency responsible for the county's stormwater management infrastructure, which they say was overwhelmed by the recent storms and includes aging components like a 1939 drain extension that may need a major upgrade.
What they’re saying
“His backyard looked more like a lake, with about four feet of standing water at one point.”
— Jim Short, Homeowner
“If homeowners were completely honest about the situation, they might not even be able to sell.”
— Jim Short, Homeowner
What’s next
The Genesee County Drain Commission says the recent storms overwhelmed systems across the county, and they are exploring options to upgrade the aging 1939 drain extension, which could cost around $8 million.
The takeaway
This persistent flooding issue in Genesee County underscores the growing challenges communities face in maintaining aging stormwater infrastructure, especially as extreme weather events become more common. Unresolved flooding can have significant financial and emotional impacts on homeowners, as well as broader implications for local property values and economic development.
