LANSING, MICH. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has denied the State of Michigan’s appeal for the Individual Assistance (IA) program in Branch, Cass, and St. Joseph Counties and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) statewide. Federal disaster assistance was requested in response to deadly tornadoes that impacted Southwest Michigan in March 2026.
“In the aftermath of these devastating tornadoes, our priority has remained supporting the communities and residents impacted by this disaster,” said Capt. Kevin Sweeney, deputy state director of Emergency Management and commander of the Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division. (MSP/EMHSD.) “We will continue working with our local partners to support recovery efforts and ensure survivors have access to available resources.”
In a
letter issued earlier this week, FEMA officials reaffirmed the denial of IA funding which would have provided financial support and direct services to eligible individuals and households who have sustained uninsured or underinsured losses due to damage caused by tornadoes. FEMA also denied funding through the HMGP, which supports projects that help communities reduce future disaster risks and strengthen long-term resilience.
On March 6, four tornadoes with intensities ranging from EF-0 to EF-3 impacted southern Lower Michigan. Communities near Edwardsburg, Cass County, in and around the city of Three Rivers, St. Joseph County, and along the north side of Union Lake in Union City, Branch County, were among the hardest hit.
The tornadoes damaged or destroyed numerous homes and businesses, overturned vehicles, and sheared trees. A 12-year-old child in Cass County lost their life, along with three adults in Union City. The storm also caused significant power outages across the region.
The State of Michigan appealed FEMA’s initial denial on June 23.
For more information on how to prepare before, during and after an emergency or disaster, visit
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