Hopes were dashed for residents of southwest Michigan as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) rejected the state’s plea for a major disaster declaration. The request, which sought federal aid following early May’s destructive tornadoes, was turned down in a July 23 response letter, as detailed by The Detroit News. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer initially reached out to the Biden administration in June, advocating for individual assistance after the natural disaster struck Branch, Cass, Kalamazoo, and St. Joseph Counties.
In the aftermath of the storms, city officials in Portage, such as City Manager Patrick McGinnis, had anticipated federal support in their recovery efforts. According to an interview with McGinnis obtained by The Detroit News, hundreds of buildings suffered damage with 60 destroyed. Despite having already spent more than $1 million on cleanup, "Now is a time of need for us, and we're hoping that we can convince them to show up and help us dig out," McGinnis stated, necessitating crucial aid for both individuals and businesses.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell explained in the correspondence that the damage “was not of such severity and magnitude as to be beyond the capabilities of the state, affected local governments, and voluntary agencies,” as reported by MLive.
Meanwhile, local efforts continue to fill in where federal relief has been absent, with state senators like McCann advocating for measures to bolster future preparedness. "In the upcoming state budget, I was proud to have helped secure more than $3 million in funding,” McCann said, as per MLive. Additionally, information from News 8 indicates that the next state budget plans for deposits into the State Disaster Emergency Contingency Fund, to provide a financial reservoir for future disasters.
