As part of a larger award announced by the governor’s office, Governor Gretchen Whitmer has given the green light to allocate approximately $1.6 million to aid the recovery efforts of Southwest Michigan from the devastating tornadoes.
On July 29, Whitmer made an announcement stating that several regions in Southwest Michigan and other affected areas would receive millions of dollars in aid to help them recover from severe weather events. The Disaster and Emergency Contingency Fund (DECF) will donate approximately $11 million to support 17 Michigan counties, which have been under three state of emergency declarations in the past 16 months.
The aftermath of the tornado in Portage on May 7 has left Southwest Michigan in a state of distress. Homes and businesses were ravaged, and the recovery process has been slow and difficult.
Governor Whitmer has declared that residents of 17 counties in Michigan who experienced tornadoes, flooding, and rapid snowmelt will receive disaster assistance. The governor emphasized that by declaring these disasters and collaborating with federal partners, the state would be able to offer more resources to affected areas in a faster and more efficient manner.
Multiple tornadoes hit Southwest Michigan on May 7, causing widespread damage and injuring more than a dozen people due to the severe storm system.
During the storm, dangerous straight-line winds caused hail ranging from 1 to 4 inches in diameter, leaving behind a trail of debris that took several weeks to clean up. In response, Governor Whitmer declared a state of emergency for Branch, Cass, Kalamazoo, and St. Joseph counties. All four counties later applied for the funding to aid in their storm-related cleanup efforts.
State Senator Sean McCann, a Democrat representing Kalamazoo, expressed his gratitude towards the governor for acknowledging the expenses caused by natural disasters in the state, including Kalamazoo County. In a news release, he stated, “We are encountering a growing number of natural occurrences that result in substantial destruction, particularly in the face of climate change.”
In case of exceptional circumstances, the governor holds the authority to approve the use of funds from the Disaster and Emergency Contingency Fund to extend state aid to counties and municipalities, especially when federal emergency reimbursement is not an option.
The funds can be utilized to cover the expenses that arise during a disaster or emergency response, including costs for overtime of public employees, contracts, shelter supplies, gasoline, and the repair of public buildings and roads.
The grant program will be administered by the Michigan State Police, Emergency Management, and Homeland Security Division (MSP/EMHSD).
To address the impacts of rapid snowmelt in the Upper Peninsula, Whitmer granted $5.1 million. She also provided $4.3 million to assist with the damages caused by the Aug. 23, 2023, tornadoes and flooding in Eaton, Ingham, Ionia, Kent, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, and Wayne counties.
Federal officials have declined Michigan’s request for FEMA assistance to aid the recovery of communities in southwest Michigan affected by the severe tornadoes and storms that occurred on May 7th.
