Executive Order 2021-13: Declaration of State of Emergency

On August 30, 2021, the city of Flat Rock, located primarily in Wayne County, experienced a hazardous materials emergency in the form of an unknown odor, posing a serious health and safety threat to residents. The contaminant and source of the odor have not been identified, but the leak has the potential to be explosive. The Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy and the United States Environmental Protection Agency are involved in investigation and testing. On September 1, 2021, Wayne County and the city of Flat Rock declared local states of emergency in response to this situation. As of September 2, 2021, detectable levels of the contaminant in the sewer system continue to warrant a concern of explosion and several homes have been evacuated.

Section 1 of article 5 of the Michigan Constitution of 1963 vests the executive power of the State of Michigan in the governor. Under the Emergency Management Act, 1976 PA 390, as amended, 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, as amended, MCL 30.401 to 30.421, I find it reasonable and necessary to order the following:

1. A state of emergency is declared for the city of Flat Rock and the counties of Wayne and Monroe.

2. The Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division of the Department of State Police must coordinate and maximize all state efforts and may call upon all state departments and other member states of the Interstate Emergency Management Assistance Compact to use available resources to assist in the designated areas under the Michigan Emergency Management Plan.

3. 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 September 30, 2021 unless extended as provided by the Emergency Management Act.

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