Whitmer appeals federal declaration denial for southwest Michigan

DETROIT — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has appealed to President Joe Biden after the Federal Emergency Management Agency denied relief aid to southwest Michigan counties recovering from four tornadoes.

The twisters struck Branch, Cass, Kalamazoo and St. Joseph counties in a May storm that inflicted major damages on homeowners and local businesses.

Whitmer had asked the Biden administration to issue a major disaster declaration and apply individual aid programs for impacted residents in June. FEMA denied the request on July 23.

The governor sent a letter on Wednesday to FEMA Region 5 Administrator Thomas Sivak to ask the agency to reconsider, the Michigan governor's office announced in a press release.

The need for federal aid in southwest Michigan remains pressing as ever, Whitmer said in the release.

Portage, which declared a local state of emergency, was especially hard hit. The storm left 16 people injured and large hail damages homes, businesses as well as the local power grid, state officials reported.

Resident reports also show the area is still in need of FEMA's Individual Assistance programs to help with uninsured home and personal property losses, according to the release.

The Individual Assistance program includes grants for temporary housing and home repairs. The program also offers other recovery programs and low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses.

"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,” Whitmer said in the release. “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.”

FEMA determined that the storm damage was not so severe that the state, local governments and volunteer agencies could not address it separately, FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell wrote in a letter explaining the agency's denial in July.

Whitmer's appeal is the right decision for impacted families and businesses, Republican Congressman Bill Huizenga, who serves Michigan's fourth congressional district, said in the release.

“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," Huizenga said. "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.”