EGLE encourages property owner to review and follow the tips and recommendations in the following resources to prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural disasters, catastrophes, and storms.

• EGLE Storm Recovery: Storm Debris Webpage
• EGLE Storm Recovery: Emergency Disposal Authorization Webpage
• Michigan State Police (MSP) MIREADY Webpage for residents
• MSP Emergency Management and Homeland Security Webpage for public officials
• MSP Disaster Declaration Process Video
• Federal Emergency Management Agency Preparedness Activities, Research and Webinars
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security Disasters and Emergencies Ready Resources Webpage

• Connect with the Federal Emergency Management Agency by using their Wireless Emergency Alerts Phone App. Authorities authorized to send alerts include state, local, tribal, and territorial public safety officials, the National Weather Service, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and the President of the United States.
• Do not bog down emergency lines preventing people needing immediate assistance from accessing police, fire, or medical care.
• Have your Local Emergency Management Program Contact Information handy in case you need to report a new emergency.

• Check with your insurance providers for damaged personal property.
• To see if government funding is available for county or municipality response actions, see:
  • Department of Health and Human Services Assistance Program Webpage
  • Search for Federal Emergency Management Agency Declared Disasters and any Resources Offered 
• The Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division (MSP, EMHSD) is responsible for coordinating state and federal resources to assist local government in response and relief activities in the event of an emergency or disaster. The division also coordinates homeland security initiatives and various federal grants. Under the authority of the Michigan Emergency Management Act (Public Act 390 of 1976, as amended), each county is required to appoint an emergency management coordinator. In addition, some Michigan communities have municipal emergency management coordinators.  Emergency management coordinators have responsibilities that include planning for hazard mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery in local communities. For more information see the MSP Disaster Declaration Process Video and contact your Local Emergency Management Coordinator.

• Michigan State Police Resources:
  • Watch for Michigan State Police Press Releases for updates. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, search for emergency. Most State of Michigan news feeds are searchable now.
  • Follow Michigan State Police on Social Media for real time updates on their Facebook feed and Emergency Management Homeland Security Twitter feed
• Federal Emergency Management Agency Resources:  
  • Connect with the Federal Emergency Management Agency by using their Wireless Emergency Alerts Phone Ap. Authorities authorized to send alerts include state, local, tribal, and territorial public safety officials, the National Weather Service, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and the President of the United States.

Debris from homes and businesses should not be burned. This includes structural materials, roofing, insulation, siding, appliances, carpet, furniture, and other household items. “Open burning” is the burning of unwanted materials, such as paper, trees, brush, leaves, grass, and other debris whose smoke and other emissions are released directly into the air. During open burning, air pollutants do not pass through a chimney or stack, and/or the combustion of solid waste is not controlled.

Only the burning of trees, logs, brush, and stumps is allowed as long as it is conducted further than 1,400 feet from the boundary of an incorporated city or village and does not cause a nuisance. Visit Michigan.gov/BurnPermit to find out if a burn permit is required in your area for burning tree, logs, brush, and stumps.

The best options for handling excess untreated wood and woody materials is to cut, split, shred, chip, or mulch it for use as fuel, in flower beds, etc. When handling storm-generated vegetative debris, like leaves, grass, plants and small branches, composting is the preferred option, unless you can use it to create wildlife habitat. Search our Compost Web Map, Michigan.gov/RecyclingDirectory, and Michigan.gov/RMMD to find woody and vegetative debris recycling options.

Check out our Storm Recovery: Storm Debris Webpage and Materials Management Facility Map for details on how you can manage debris and where it can go.  

The local jurisdiction should have a conversation with the waste handling vendors in the area and reach out to other vendors to assist with clearing the storm debris if the local waste management group is unresponsive to the community needs. 

The best option for reducing expenses associated with responding to a storm is to see if there are volunteer groups that can assist with removing the storm debris.

In most areas, residents can call 211 to get connected with their local emergency management team who typically coordinates volunteers efforts to recover from the storm.