Governor Whitmer appeals FEMA's denial of assistance to Southwest Michigan following May storm damage

CASS COUNTY, Mish. -- Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced she sent a letter to President Joe Biden via Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region 5 Administrator Thomas Sivak requesting the reconsideration of the July 23 denial for the governor’s Major Disaster Declaration request for Branch, Cass, Kalamazoo, and St. Joseph Counties.

Whitmer requested the declaration in June following four tornadoes and severe storms which caused damage across the affected counties on May 7.

"Michiganders across Southwest Michigan continue to rebuild and recover more than four months after the tornadoes and severe storms caused massive damage across the region,” said Whitmer. “Damage reports continue to come in as people have lost their homes and businesses. In response, I am appealing the denial of a presidential disaster declaration so we can deliver critical financial assistance to support our resilient families, businesses, and communities as they recover.”

Whitmer says the decision to appeal the denial of her request for activation of Individual Assistance (IA) programs is based on increasing reports of difficulties faced by residents.

Specifically, Whitmer says it relates to uninsured home and personal property losses. Additionally, the City of Portage declared a local state of emergency.

“This appeal is the right decision to help families and small businesses impacted by the May 7 tornadoes and storms across Southwest Michigan,” said U.S. Congressman Bill Huizenga. “Having been on the ground and seeing the aftermath first-hand, it is clear to me that there are still many unmet needs in Kalamazoo County. It is my hope that the Biden-Harris Administration will reverse its denial and make federal assistance available to those impacted in Kalamazoo County and across Southwest Michigan.”

State officials say the severe thunderstorms and tornadoes over the southwest part of the state resulted in around 16 people injured and caused significant damage to homes, businesses, and the power grid.

Debris removal and other storm related clean-up has lasted several weeks.

The night of the storms, Whitmer declared a state of emergency for the impacted counties, directing state departments and agencies to use all available state resources in cooperation with local response and recovery efforts.

At the state’s request, a joint preliminary damage assessment was conducted by state, federal, and local officials starting on May 15.

State officials say the initial assessment estimated a need for more than $4 million in assistance.

FEMA's IA includes grants for temporary housing, home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the disaster.