Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks at a Michigan Democratic Party delegation breakfast on day three of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Ill., on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is asking President Donald Trump for answers and a change of heart after his administration reneged on a declaration approving portions of a disaster relief package for northern Michigan following devastating ice storms in the spring.
Whitmer on Monday issued a letter to appeal that decision. The governor said although assistance for local municipalities was approved by the Trump administration, individual families, businesses and utilities have been denied relief in the form of federal funding.
“Many Northern Michiganders are still reeling from the impacts of the ice storm that devastated communities earlier this year,” Whitmer said in a statement. “Michigan families and businesses deserve the support they need to recover from these storms. That’s why I’m appealing [the administration’s] disaster aid denials. I’ll keep fighting like hell to deliver relief for our residents, local governments and utility providers.”
Trump on July 22 declared a major disaster for Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Kalkaska, Mackinac, Montmorency, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, and the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians in response to a severe winter storm that occurred between March 28 and March 30.
The president’s declaration activated a number of Federal Emergency Management Agency public assistance programs, but on July 28, FEMA officials informed the governor’s office that it would be denying its request for activation as it related to public utility assistance, along with hazard mitigation grants and individual assistance for families.
Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II also issued a statement through Whitmer’s office, adding that the executive team was working hard to provide relief.
“Unfortunately, residents, business owners, and utilities aren’t getting what they need,” Gilchrist said. “We are appealing FEMA’s decision not to approve key parts of our request, and we’ll continue Standing Tall to help northern Michigan recover.”
A bipartisan group of federal and statewide elected officials also joined in the governor’s call to greenlight the remaining portion of requested aid, including U.S. Sen. Gary Peters of Bloomfield Township, U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Holly, both Democrats, as well as U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman of Watersmeet and state Sen. John Damoose of Harbor Springs, both Republicans.
“Recovery will continue to be out of reach without these critical resources from FEMA, which is why I support Governor Whitmer’s appeal. Michiganders deserve better,” Peters said.
Slotkin echoed Peters and said FEMA needs to step up and do its part after Trump declared a major disaster for the area.
Bergman, a strong Republican supporter of Trump, added that Michigan families and communities were still left carrying the burden even months after the ice storms halted power and critical resources in March. The congressman said he strongly supported Whitmer’s appeal.
“This is about standing up for Northern Michiganders and ensuring we are not left behind,” Bergman said.
Damoose, a leading Republican in the Senate, said he personally experienced the devastation of the storms.
“I am also deeply troubled by the costs that our electrical co-ops have faced which total hundreds of millions of dollars,” Damoose said. “While we are all grateful for the federal support that has been approved, I very much support Governor Whitmer’s efforts to appeal the decision by the federal government to deny individual assistance and help to our utilities, who otherwise will have no choice but to pass those costs on to residents.”
The letter and appeal came within a 30-day window to appeal FEMA’s decision. Whitmer said she was providing the agency with updated data and what she believed was a compelling justification for why the programs were essential for long-term recovery in the region.
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