Executive Order 2023-2: Declaration of State of Emergency

Beginning on April 11, 2023, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan experienced a rapid melting of the snowpack, caused by rising temperatures. As a result of this accelerated thaw, the counties of Gogebic and Houghton have faced dangerous conditions and sustained damages caused by widespread flooding, as fast-moving melt waters have overwhelmed storm water and sewer systems, burst earthen dams, caused culverts and embankments to fail, caused road washouts and closures, caused sinkholes to appear, and deposited debris and silt on roadways. Water flows have yet to fully recede. Both counties have declared local states of emergency. 

 

Local officials have taken several actions to respond to the situation, including but not limited to activating the emergency response and recovery aspects of their emergency operations plans, staffing their emergency operations centers to coordinate response and recovery activities, issuing emergency public information, closing roads and redirecting traffic, placing sandbags, and otherwise utilizing local resources to address these conditions. State assistance is necessary to effectively respond to, and recover from, the impacts of this flooding.

 

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 order the following:

1. A state of emergency is declared for the counties of Gogebic and Houghton. 

2. The Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division of the Department of State Police shall coordinate and maximize 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.

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 May 12, unless extended as provided by the Emergency Management Act.

 

Click to view the full PDF of the executive order.