Image courtesy of Lexi Mayers Water gushes over Truax Road in Delta County near Cornell on Monday. The public is warned that six inches of flowing water can knock a person off their feet, and one foot of moving water can sweep a car away.

ESCANABA — Across the central Upper Peninsula, excessive water from rain and melting snow is causing problems for drivers, first responders, homeowners and municipalities. Water levels are expected to continue to rise and may peak mid-week. Some roads have washed out — others have flooded.

“We are urging motorists to be extremely cautious if they encounter standing water on the roadways as sometimes it is difficult to estimate the depth of the water and very little water can affect the stability of your vehicle,” said Delta County Emergency Management Coordinator Paul Geyer.

Roads that were closed to through traffic include, but are not limited to, the following:

Menominee County:

• U.S. 2 between U.S. 41 and Main Street

• County Road 380 between U.S. 41 and Old U.S. 41

• Old U.S. 41, half a mile north and half a mile south of County Road 380

• Quarry Road between Spur Road and Trail Crossing

• Gustafson Road, one-quarter mile north of County Road 577

• Townline Road (Kell Road) – one mile north of Spring Green Road

• A creek in Ensign Township is far higher than usual, putting trees underwater and nearly washing away a footbridge. (Courtesy photo)

• Township Line Road (Wilson) – 1.4 miles north of Old U.S. 2

Delta County

• Willow Creek Road in the Escanaba area

• Truax 24th Road in the Cornell area

• 10th Road in Ford River

• 17th Road near Ten Mile Creek

• 21st Road in the Flat Rock area

• US 41 near Rapid River

• Bichler creek area near Escanaba

Even when roads are not closed, motorists would be wise to use caution and turn around if a road appears to covered in water. “Turn around, don’t drown” is a phrase promoted by the National Weather Service to promote safety in flood conditions.

At home, good advice is to have supplies for several days — especially food and drinking water and first aid materials — in case services are cut off; to move valuables to higher levels; and to declutter drains and gutters to improve drainage, Geyer recommended.

The State of Michigan offers other helpful guidance that may be found at michigan.gov/miready/be-informed/floods.