LANSING, Mich. – Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced on Tuesday that she has filed an appeal to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) decision to deny federal assistance for Michigan residents affected by recent tornadoes.
The request for emergency assistance stems from a deadly tornado outbreak that caused widespread destruction across Branch, Cass and St. Joseph counties on March 6.
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The tornadoes claimed four lives, including a 12-year-old from Cass County and three adults from Union City. Considered the deadliest outbreak in 50 years, the tornadoes damaged numerous homes and businesses, overturned vehicles, sheared trees and caused significant power outages across the region.
The hardest hit communities were in Southwest Michigan near Edwardsburg in Cass County, in and around the city of Three Rivers in St. Joseph County, and along the north side of Union Lake in Union City, Branch County.
“Families are still recovering from the devastation caused by the March tornadoes,” Whitmer said in a news release. “These storms damaged critical infrastructure, destroyed homes, and tragically claimed four lives. While I’m disappointed that FEMA denied our request for Individual Assistance, our work is not over. We will keep fighting to deliver the support our residents deserve, and help affected communities recover and rebuild. Michiganders are strong. We will get through this together.”
FEMA officials confirmed the denial of funding to aid with tornado loss on May 31.
FEMA also denied funding through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), a support for communities to reduce future disaster risks and strengthen long-term resilience.
Whitmer requested the presidential disaster declaration to help Southwest Michigan communities recover from the deadly tornadoes on April 1.
Low-interest federal disaster loans remain available from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for businesses, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners, and renters impacted by the March 6 tornadoes in Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Hillsdale, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, and Van Buren counties.
Those eligible are encouraged to apply before the June 29 deadline.
For more information on how to prepare before, during and after an emergency or disaster, visit MIREADY or follow MSP/EMHSD on X and Facebook.