(The Center Square) – Months after an ice storm devastated Northern Michigan, certain public assistance for recovery efforts has been officially denied by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
This comes after President Donald Trump already approved Michigan’s request for a major disaster declaration in July. In that approval, 13 counties were allowed to request public assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
“With this initial support, we can help communities recover costs associated with cleanup efforts,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said at that time.
Additionally, Trump approved $50 million in aid for the state’s recovery efforts, as previously reported by The Center Square.
While millions were approved, some assistance was denied in Michigan’s initial application and the state subsequently appealed that decision in August. Now, FEMA has also denied its appeal for that additional relief.
The state does not seem concerned that denial will greatly impede recovery efforts.
“While the denial of additional federal aid is disappointing, Michigan has a strong foundation for recovery,” said Capt. Kevin Sweeney, deputy state director of Emergency Management and commander of the Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division. “Together with our local and state partners, we will continue to provide the support and coordination needed to help communities recover.”
The additional resources the state was seeking included:
Public Assistance Category F funding, which would have supported permanent repairs to damaged utilities like water, power, and communication infrastructure.
Individual Assistance, which would have helped Michigan residents with housing and disaster-related losses.
FEMA is still reviewing Michigan’s application for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which funds long-term projects to reduce future risks from storms. That application was also previously denied.
The March storm has been labeled “historic” by state officials. On March 31, Whitmer declared a state of emergency to respond to the storm’s impact. The declaration initially covered 10 counties, but was then expanded to include 12 counties.
Nearly 100,000 Michiganders were without power, while the storm left hundreds of miles of roads blocked by fallen trees and debris. Even the Mackinaw Bridge, which connects lower Michigan to the upper Northern peninsula, was closed for a time.
This denial for Michigan funding follows on the heels of FEMA also denying taxpayer-funded emergency assistance to Wisconsin for severe storm and flooding recovery. Pounded by storms in August, the state was seeking assistance for $26.5 million in eligible disaster costs. FEMA also denied that claim, stating that “it has been determined that the public assistance program is not warranted.”
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers pushed back against that decision.
“The federal government should not expect our communities go through this alone, and we are going to fight tooth and nail to ensure they get every possible resource to rebuild and recover,” Evers said. “We are hopeful that the Trump Administration will reconsider this decision, so we can make sure folks have the resources and support they need.”
While under previous presidents, federal storm aid was often seen as a “given,” not so under the Trump Administration. Instead, it has shifted some of the burden back to the states.
“The federal government focuses its support on truly catastrophic disasters—massive hurricanes, devastating earthquakes, or wide-scale attacks on the homeland,” said Brian Hughes, a spokesman for the National Security Council, according to May reporting.
