Flooding Forces Michigan Hotel, Apartment Evacuation

Grand Rapids, Mich., firefighters helped to evacuate apartments and a hotel downtown after 4.5 feet of water surged into the 32-floor building’s basement.

Fire Battalion Chief Kevin Sehlmeyer tells MLive.com the water surge on Saturday flooded laundry facilities, trapped cars and caused a full evacuation of the Plaza Towers Apartments and the Courtyard Marriott hotel.

According to Sehlmeyer, people will have to stay out of the building for a few days.

When both the hotel and apartments are full, the building holds about 1,000 people. Sehlmeyer didn’t know how many were evacuated on Saturday.

Arrangements are being made to find hotel guests rooms elsewhere.

Building officials have not yet provided details on the flooding.