City Engineer Scott Connors outlines flood risks in Walker and steps residents can take

City Engineer Scott Connors said Walker faces two distinct kinds of flooding and urged residents to take simple steps to reduce local risk. "The first off is the flash flooding that we see, like, in a neighborhood," Connors said, adding: "It happens right away. It usually subsides in a few minutes." He contrasted that with Grand River flooding, which can be forecast days in advance from upstream storms.

Connors described how recent high-intensity storms produced about 2 inches of rain in two hours (roughly 3 inches total over several hours), overwhelming storm sewers and backyard ditches. "Those 2 inches are so intense, it overwhelms the storm sewer systems in the streets," he said. To reduce impacts, Walker inspects flood infrastructure each spring and watches river gauges tied to National Weather Service forecasts.

The city maintains a flood wall along Turner Avenue that is integrated with the Grand Rapids system and performs spring checks on outlets and related equipment, Connors said. He credited public works crews and a senior staff member, Pat Poss, for pre-storm preparations that included clearing catch basins and removing debris so drains could operate during the heavy rain.

Connors said the city also notifies industrial businesses when river forecasts suggest potential roadway flooding, advising them to elevate equipment or take other protective steps. "You may wanna put stuff up on blocks," he said, warning some areas could see "upwards of a foot or two of water in the road."

On development and planning, Connors said post-World War II construction generally sent runoff downstream without controls. Modern projects in Walker now use detention ponds and infiltration strategies, and the city enforces an ordinance across Walker and Kent County requiring developers to mitigate added runoff. "Oftentimes, they have to build much more detention or a flood plain kind of an area where water that sat before can sit again," he said.

Connors also explained flood insurance options: Walker participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, which allows agents to sell flood coverage for basements and key equipment even for properties outside mapped floodplains. He recommended homeowners concerned about localized flooding consider policies that cover furnaces, water heaters and other systems.

For residents, Connors offered practical advice: keep on-site drainage clear, avoid piling leaves and sticks where they can wash into drains, and watch weather forecasts so families can prepare. "Everybody can chip in and everybody can take a role in this," he said.

The conversation was part of the Made in Walker podcast. Host Nicole DeDonato closed the episode by thanking Connors and directing listeners to podcast@walker.city for questions or suggestions.