Executive Order 2020-98: Declaration of State of Emergency - RESCINDED

On May 19, 2020, I issued Executive Order 2020-94 declaring a state of emergency for the city of Midland and the county of Midland due to severe flooding as a result of the failure of the Edenville and Sanford Dam structures along the Tittabawassee River. This event has also caused severe flooding in Arenac, Gladwin, and Saginaw counties.

In response, the counties of Arenac, Gladwin, and Saginaw have taken several actions that include declaring a local state of emergency; activating disaster response and recovery operations; evacuating and providing shelter to affected residents; and issuing emergency public information. The assistance of voluntary organizations and the state are required to protect public health, safety, and property, and to lessen or avert more severe and lasting harm to the community.

Despite these measures, local resources are insufficient to respond to the extreme flooding under the current conditions. State assistance and other outside resources are necessary to effectively respond to, and recover from, the impacts of flooding.

Under the Emergency Management Act, 1976 PA 390, MCL 30.403(4), “[t]he governor shall, by executive order or proclamation, declare a state of emergency if he or she finds that an emergency has occurred or that the threat of an emergency exists.” Therefore, acting under the Michigan Constitution of 1963 and Michigan law, including the Emergency Management Act, 1976 PA 390, MCL 30.401 to 30.421, I find it reasonable and necessary to amend and expand Executive Order 2020-94, and order the following:

1. In addition to the city of Midland and the county of Midland, a state of emergency is also declared for the counties of Arenac, Gladwin, and Saginaw.
2. Any emergency order issued in response to the COVID-19 crisis is temporarily suspended in these counties to the extent such order impedes the emergency response effort under this declaration.
3. The Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division of the Department of State Police shall coordinate and augment all state efforts and may call upon all state departments to utilize available resources to assist in the designated area pursuant to the Michigan Emergency Management Plan.

The state of emergency is terminated at such time as the threats to public health, safety, and property caused by the emergency no longer exist, and appropriate programs have been implemented to recover from the effects of this emergency, but in no case later than June 16, 2020, unless extended as provided by 1976 Public Act 390, as amended.

Click to view the full PDF of the executive order.