As West Michigan grapples with the aftershocks of severe storms, Kalamazoo and Allegan County officials have declared states of emergency to marshal resources and hasten recovery efforts. The announcement from Kalamazoo County, which came yesterday night, promises to "enable the County to mobilize additional resources when needed," according to a statement from WOODTV. More than 20,000 residents found themselves still without power post-storm, per the latest update from Consumers Energy's outage map.
"This has been an incredibly difficult time for our residents," remarked Jen Strebs, chair of the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners, in a statement obtained by WOODTV. Strebs drew parallels to the hardship experienced in the wake of the May 7, 2024 tornado—another testament to the region's resilience against nature's fury. The American Red Cross is slated to distribute aid including water and clean-up kits to those affected, starting today at the Kalamazoo Community Church.
Allegan County, having faced similar tumult, swiftly followed suit with an emergency declaration of its own. A press release cited by MLive, underscored the goal to support response and recovery operations county-wide. To that end, officials have begun to actively seek mutual aid from nearby jurisdictions and the State of Michigan.
Sarah Clark, Emergency Management Coordinator, assured the community, telling MLive, "We will continue to coordinate with local, state, and federal partners to assess needs and provide support." Emergency responders and utility crews are rigorously working to clear debris and restore energy to the stricken areas. The Allegan County Community Foundation has also triggered the Disaster Response Fund dubbed Allegan County Cares, to cater to both immediate and protracted recovery needs.
Residents in both counties who have sustained damage are encouraged to report it to their respective Emergency Management officials. For immediate assistance, those in need can reach out to the American Red Cross at 1-800-RED-CROSS. Relief distributions and other ongoing response efforts are being shared via official social media channels and county websites. Kalamazoo County notably highlighted their community updates and resources on FOX17's platform.
