LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Twelve northern Michigan counties are still recovering after last week’s ice storm knocked out power and felled trees blocked roadways. That’s why Governor Gretchen Whitmer requested a Presidential Emergency Declaration (EM) for the State of Michigan, those specific counties, and the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians.
She said she made the request when she met with President Donald Trump on Wednesday, and announced it on Friday.
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If approved by President Trump, the declaration would authorize up to $5 million in immediate public assistance to support emergency efforts. Gov. Whitmer called it an “all-hands-on-deck” approach.
“I declared a state of emergency, deployed the national guard, and took key steps to expedite recovery,” said Whitmer. “But our work is just beginning. I met with President Trump and submitted a request for a federal emergency declaration that will support local communities and counties with more resources as they recover from this devastating storm.”
Representatives Ken Borton (R-Gaylord) and Cam Cavitt (R-Gaylord) expressed their support for the governor and the extra federal aid.
“No one alive has ever seen a storm this bad in Northern Michigan,” Cavitt said. “We’re nearly two weeks out, and there are still more than 10,000 people without power. It took days for gas stations and grocery stores to re-open. We had nursing homes running lifesaving equipment off generators and roads impassable for days. This was nothing short of a living nightmare.”
Whitmer’s office said emergency protective operations remain ongoing, including sheltering and distribution of life-sustaining resources and supplies.
In addition, Whitmer said the state will conduct Joint Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDAs) with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) starting April 20.
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