Governor Gretchen Whitmer is a lifelong Michigander. She is a lawyer, an educator, former prosecutor, State Representative and Senator. She was the first woman to lead a Senate caucus. But the most important title she boasts is MOM. Inspired by her family, she’s devoted her life to building a stronger Michigan for everyone.
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May 23, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 23, 2019
FEMA will Partner with State and Local Officials to Assess Damage in Wayne County
Lansing, MI– Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has requested the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to conduct a joint Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) with state and local officials to review damages and response costs caused by heavy rainfall and flooding in Wayne County in early May. This request was granted by FEMA and is the next step in the process of asking for federal assistance.
“We are exploring all our options to assist the residents of Wayne County in recovering from the damage caused by this devastating flood,” Whitmer said. “The assessment is necessary to confirm the reported damage, which is critical in making our case for federal aid.”
The joint PDA teams will be comprised of personnel from FEMA, the Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division (MSP/EMHSD), local governments and the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Joint PDA teams are expected to begin gathering information in impacted communities as early as next week. They will spend several days collecting estimated response and recovery costs with a focus on the number of damaged buildings, displaced individuals and threats to health and safety.
About the Disaster On April 30 and May 1, heavy rainfall caused widespread flooding in Wayne County, damaging infrastructure and private property. On May 2, Wayne County declared a local state of emergency and requested state assistance. Gov. Whitmer announced a state of emergency for Wayne County on May 2 and formally signed the declaration May 3.
By declaring a state of emergency, Whitmer has made available all state resources in cooperation with local response and recovery efforts in the designated area. The declaration authorizes the Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division (MSP/EMHSD) to coordinate state efforts above and beyond what MSP/EMHSD has already been doing in conjunction with local agencies.
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