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*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*    

February 8, 2024    

Contact: [email protected]    

 

*Gov. Whitmer Announces Michigan Receives Disaster Declaration from President Biden After August Tornadoes and Storms* 

   

*LANSING, Mich*. – Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that President Joe Biden has approved Michigan’s request for a disaster declaration in nine counties across the state as a result of heavy storms in August 2023, unlocking assistance for affected Michiganders. 

 

“Michiganders have been working hard to recover from the tornadoes and storms that caused so much damage across the state this summer,” said *Governor Whitmer*. “With today’s federal disaster declaration by President Biden, we will get the resources we need to support impacted families, businesses, and communities. Michiganders are tough. We will get through this the way we always have—together." 

 

The declaration opens the path to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Individual Assistance (IA) for residents of Eaton, Ingham, Ionia, Kent, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland and Wayne counties. Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide. 

 

This FEMA assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster. 

 

 “This federal assistance will supplement the ongoing state and local recovery efforts and will directly help home and business owners affected by these storms,” said *Col. James F. Grady II, state director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and director of the MSP*. “We encourage all affected residents to apply.” 

 

On August 24, areas in lower Michigan experienced several storm fronts that brought heavy rain, strong winds, and seven tornadoes. Governor Gretchen Whitmer made the request for a Major Disaster Declaration as communities across the state experienced road and bridge closures, downed trees and power lines, damage to building structures, embankments, and road surfaces, overwhelmed stormwater and sewer systems, and deposits of silt and debris. Hundreds of homeowners also reported residential flooding.  

 

Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance at www.DisasterAssistance.gov [ [link removed] ], by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), or by using the FEMA App [ [link removed] ]. Anyone using a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, can give FEMA the number for that service.  

 

For more information on how to prepare before, during, and after an emergency or disaster, visit www.michigan.gov/miready [ [link removed] ] or follow MSP/EMHSD on Twitter at @MichEMHS [ [link removed] ].  

 

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This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Michigan Executive Office of the Governor · 111 S. Capitol Ave · Lansing, Michigan 48901 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]