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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July 18, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 17, 2019
Contact: Tiffany Brown, BrownT56@michigan.gov, 517-335-6397
Jacqueline Hampton, HamptonJ3@michigan.gov, 517-243-0149
Gov. Whitmer Opens Disaster and Emergency Contingency Fund for Tuscola County to Assist with Flood Response Costs
LANSING, Mich. –Gov. Gretchen Whitmer today opened the Disaster and Emergency Contingency Fund to provide financial assistance to Tuscola County after severe flooding caused significant and widespread damages in late May.
“I thank the first responders and other agencies in Tuscola County who did a great job protecting the health and safety of residents throughout this emergency,” said Whitmer. “The county continues to recover from the impacts of the severe flooding and this funding will help to cover some of the costs incurred while responding to and recovering from this disaster.”
Under extraordinary circumstances, the governor may authorize reimbursement from the Disaster and Emergency Contingency Fund to provide state assistance to counties and municipalities when federal assistance is not available.
The fund is used when communities demonstrate an exhaustion of local resources during a disaster or emergency. The money can be applied toward the immediate prevention, response and recovery of a disaster or emergency, as well as cover overtime for public employees, contracts used during the response, shelter supplies, gasoline used during the response and repair of public buildings and infrastructure.
The Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division will administer the grant program and assist local governments with applying for the funds.
On May 25, heavy rainfall caused widespread flooding in Tuscola County, damaging infrastructure and private property. The county formally requested assistance on May 29.
The county of Tuscola declared a local state of emergency on May 28, which activates local emergency response and recovery plans. By requesting a governor’s declaration, the county has determined local resources are insufficient to address the situation and state assistance is required to protect the health, safety and property to lessen or avert the threat of a crisis.
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