Hello Neighbor,

Last night’s storms were devastating to our Downriver and Western Wayne communities, and I have been working with the Governor’s office and checking in with local officials to help coordinate mitigation efforts and get residents the assistance they need. Please reach out to my office if you have any questions or issues, and we can help connect you with resources. In the meantime, I wanted to share some important information from the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) to assist Downriver residents who may have been impacted by the subsequent flooding. 

Floods are the most common and most costly natural disaster. If your home has experienced water damage, you should: 

• Contact your insurance company’s claims hotline and/or your agent to report your claim. Have your policy number and other relevant information readily available. 
• When contacting your insurance company, be sure to communicate that you have experienced water damage and are looking to determine what coverage you have available. Do not simply state that your damage is due to a flood as there may be additional causes for water damage, such as a sewer backup or failing sump pump that may be covered under your policy. 
• Take steps to protect your property and prevent further loss. 
• Document your loss. Take pictures or videos of the damaged items and do not get rid of the items until the insurance company instructs you to remove the items.   

For more information, click here. 

On a lighter note, I want to take a moment to share updates from around District 4 as we wrap up our summer and prepare for a productive and exciting fall in Lansing. Our new Democratic Majority was able to accomplish so much in our first six months, but our work is far from over.  

Over the summer, I made it a priority to have conversations with constituents and local leaders from Wyandotte to Belleville about what matters most to them. I’m looking forward to continuing our work to move our communities forward. Here’s what my team and I have been up to since our last eNews:

Last week, I was incredibly proud to be joined by Rep. Wegela, Mayor McCraight and many community leaders as we presented Romulus Community Schools with $1,000,000 to revitalize their Career and Technology Education programs. This appropriation in the recently signed School Aid budget was something that I was extremely pleased to get across the finish line as we look to continue our investment in trade programs across our region.  

It was only last month that the Fiscal Year 2024 state budget was signed by Governor Whitmer, but I knew it was important that conversations with our communities remained ongoing so that I can best advocate on their behalf in Lansing. To better understand the needs and challenges of District 4, I invited Senator Sarah Anthony, the Senate Appropriations Chair, to visit Downriver and Western Wayne. In our afternoon together, we had productive and engaging meetings with leaders in both Romulus and Brownstown. We deeply discussed how we can continue our work to invest in communities so that everyday Michiganders can have access to a great economy and quality of life. I would like to thank Senator Anthony for taking the time to visit District 4 and for all of the community leaders who helped shape these discussions.  

Before signing off, I want to share some important information from the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) to assist Downriver residents who may have been impacted by last night storm and subsequent flooding.

• Floods are the most common and most costly natural disaster. If your home has experienced water damage, you should:
• Contact your insurance company’s claims hotline and/or your agent to report your claim. Have your policy number and other relevant information readily available.
• When contacting your insurance company, be sure to communicate that you have experienced water damage and are looking to determine what coverage you have available. Do not simply state that your damage is due to a flood as there may be additional causes for water damage, such as a sewer backup or failing sump pump that may be covered under your policy.
• Take steps to protect your property and prevent further loss.
• Document your loss. Take pictures or videos of the damaged items and do not get rid of the items until the insurance company instructs you to remove the items.

For more information, click here.

In our next eNews, I look forward to sharing updates about our fall legislative priorities and other community engagement opportunities. I hope that you’ll continue to engage with my office as we continue our work representing you in the Michigan Senate. As always, if you need assistance from my office or have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact us here or give us a call at (517) 373-7918.

In Solidarity, 

Darrin Camilleri
State Senator
District 4