Stabenow, Peters & Bergman Urge President Biden to Declare Major Disaster Declaration for Upper Peninsula Counties Following Severe and Frequent Flooding

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (MI) and Gary Peters (MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, as well as U.S. Representative Jack Bergman (MI-01) urged President Biden to declare a Major Disaster for the Michigan Counties of Baraga, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Marquette, and Ontonagon. The request follows extensive flooding in the Upper Peninsula during the months of April and May that have impacted drinking water, as well as caused power outages and millions of dollars’ worth of damage. In their letter, the lawmakers supported Governor Gretchen Whitmer's request for a Major Disaster declaration.

“The multiple intense flooding events over this period have caused serious damage across the west-central Upper Peninsula of Michigan, a particularly rural area of the state,” wrote the lawmakers. “As you know, this makes these communities particularly vulnerable after disasters and increases the need for federal assistance to ensure equitable recovery.”

The lawmakers continued: “We commend the great work the federal government has done in helping Michigan recover from previous disasters. However, without a federal disaster declaration, Michigan, which has responded to 12 state-level and 2 federal-declared disasters over the past 24 months, will not have the capacity to ensure these communities receive the aid they need to fully recover. We urge your speedy approval of this request.”

A federal Major Disaster declaration would allow for federal assistance to communities for emergency response and long-term infrastructure recovery aid. This assistance includes Public Assistance for state, Tribal, territorial, and local governments and certain nonprofits, and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to prevent damage that might occur in the future.

Text of the letter is copied below and available here:

June 16, 2023

President Joseph R. Biden 

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

We write in support of Michigan’s Major Disaster declaration request in response to widespread, severe, and repeated flooding between April 10, 2023 and May 14, 2023. The Governor has requested all Public Assistance (PA) programs for Baraga, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Marquette, and Ontonagon Counties. 

The multiple intense flooding events over this period have caused serious damage across the west-central Upper Peninsula of Michigan, a particularly rural area of the state. For the 6 counties covered under this request, the percentage of people with income below the poverty level, aged 65 and over, and living with a disability are all above the state and national averages. As you know, this makes these communities particularly vulnerable after disasters and increases the need for federal assistance to ensure equitable recovery. 

The impacted counties have estimated the disaster has caused over $56 million in response and recovery costs. While only a fraction of these costs are eligible for reimbursement, federal assistance is critical to ensuring that this fiscal strain does not negatively impact the availability of government services for citizens.  The per capita indicator for all 6 counties exceeds the current level set by FEMA at $4.44 with some counties greatly exceeding it. For instance, the recovery cost per capita ranges between $167.63 for Gogebic County to $26.00 for Marquette County. The magnitude of damage for these rural communities, which were still recovering from a previous federally-declared flooding event, further underscores the need for federal assistance.

We commend the great work the federal government has done in helping Michigan recover from previous disasters. However, without a federal disaster declaration, Michigan, which has responded to 12 state-level and 2 federal-declared disasters over the past 24 months, will not have the capacity to ensure these communities receive the aid they need to fully recover. We urge your speedy approval of this request.

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