The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced Wednesday that it would be providing public assistance to 13 Michigan counties and the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians to supplement ongoing recovery efforts after the state was rocked by ice storms in March.
The storms lasted three days between March 28-30, resulting in severe ice accumulation in northern Michigan with significant impacts to critical services throughout the region.
FEMA’s commitment to assisting Michigan came Wednesday, noting that federal funding would be available now to the state, tribal and eligible local governments, while certain nonprofit organizations would be eligible on a cost-sharing basis for repairs and replacement of qualifying facilities that were damaged in the storms.
Assistance will be provided to Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Kalkaska, Mackinac, Montmorency, Oscoda, Otsego and Presque Isle counties.
FEMA’s Darrin Ricketts has been named the federal coordinator for the operation in affected areas, the agency said in a news release.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, in a statement, said she spoke with President Donald Trump on Tuesday, and he confirmed that communities in northern Michigan would start receiving FEMA funding soon.
“With this initial support, we can help communities recover costs associated with cleanup efforts,” Whitmer said. “I want to thank the president and our congressional delegation for supporting our request, and I look forward to collaborating further on much-needed additional resources.
Michiganders across the state stepped up to help our neighbors, and while other parts of our request remain under review, we will continue advocating together to help Northern Michigan recover and rebuild.”
Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist added that many people and businesses are still recovering from the damage, and the federal declaration would help them get back on their feet.
“While this storm was devastating, Michiganders are strong, and we will stand tall together,” Gilchrist said in a statement.
Both U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Watersmeet) and U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Township) said the money would help in a big way.
“The state of Michigan and local emergency managers continue to work hard because this job is not finished, and I’ll keep fighting to help our communities get the resources they need to bounce back stronger,” Peters said in a statement.
Bergman thanked Trump and his administration for the support.
“This long-awaited decision unlocks critical resources to help our communities recover and rebuild as quickly as possible,” Bergman said in a statement. “It’s been a true team effort – from local agencies to state and federal partners. Northern Michigan is no stranger to tough times – but it’s in moments like these, when our communities rally and move forward together, that the true spirit of Northern Michigan shines brightest.”
This post contains content that was first published on Michigan Advance and republished here under a Creative Commons License.
