Pictured is the Escanaba River in Ely Township on Saturday. (Photo courtesy of Victoria Frailing)

MARQUETTE — The Marquette County Board of Commissioners declared a local state of emergency late Friday due to the widespread flooding in the area.

The declaration states, “On Friday, the County of Marquette sustained widespread damage and is working to prevent injury or lost of life or property caused by flooding. As a result of this situation, the following conditions exist: Marquette County and all of its 22 political subdivisions have experienced flooding conditions from the melting of a record-setting snowpack. Recent conditions, coupled with multiple rounds of moderate to heavy rain resulted in river rises and flooding in many low-lying areas. As of (Friday) morning, the snowpack in north-central Marquette County still contained 16 inches of water with 5 to 12 inches observed elsewhere in the county.

“With flooding already occurring and continued melting expected for the foreseeable future, additional river rises and impacts are expected. Marquette County (anticipated) worsening conditions through the weekend, which will cause additional flooding, road closures as well as damage to public and private property.”

The declaration was signed by chairman Joseph Derocha.

“I hereby declare that a state of emergency exists within our jurisdiction as of Friday, and that local resources are being utilized to the fullest possible extent. The response and recovery elements of our emergency operations plan has been activated.”