EXECUTIVE ORDER No 2026-11 Declaration of State of Emergency

On May 6, 2026, the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) discovered water leaking from a 42-inch transmission main (a primary artery that moves water between regions) that serves the communities of Auburn Hills, Pontiac, Rochester Hills, Orion Township, Lake Orion, and Oakland Township, all in Oakland County. GLWA began work to fix this leak, however, efforts were unsuccessful. Early in the morning of May 10, 2026, the main ruptured, causing a widespread loss of water pressure and the possibility of loss of service for Lake Orion, Orion Township, and a portion of Auburn Hills. Additionally, Rochester Hills was placed under a boil-water advisory.

GLWA is now working to repair the main. Officials in Oakland County have fully used local resources to respond to the situation, such as issuing a local emergency declaration, activating the response and recovery aspects of their emergency operations plan, and providing public information. Despite these efforts, local resources have proven insufficient. State assistance and other outside resources are necessary to respond to and recover from the impacts of this emergency, protect public health, safety, and property, and lessen or avert the threat of more severe and lasting harm.

While the current balance of the Disaster and Emergency Contingency Fund is inadequate to address this and the other recent disasters that have occurred in this State over the last months, the Legislature can make additional funding available so that communities throughout the state can recover from these emergencies.

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 Oakland County.

    

2.  The Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division of the Department of State Police must coordinate and maximize state efforts and may call upon all state departments to assist in the designated areas consistent with the Michigan Emergency Management Plan.

    

3.  The state of emergency is terminated when 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 June 7, 2026, unless extended as provided by the Emergency Management Act.

This Order is effective immediately.

Thank you for your cooperation in its implementation.

Click to view the full PDF of the Executive Order.

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