President Biden Declares Disaster in Michigan Following June Flooding
July 15, 2021
On Thursday, July 15, President Joe Biden declared a disaster in the state of Michigan following a major flooding event in June, which provides a pathway for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assist with recovery and relief efforts.
Biden approved a disaster declaration following a request from Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who issued a state of emergency for several counties impacted by severe storms, subsequent flooding and tornadoes that occurred the last weekend in June.
“President Biden’s declaration opens up critical resources to help Michigan residents recover from this disaster,” Whitmer said Thursday. “The flooding on June 25-26 had devastating impacts on Wayne and Washtenaw County residents who suffered damage to their homes, loss of personal property, and faced unimaginable stress. With the resources we will receive thanks to President Biden’s leadership, we will put Michiganders first and help our communities recover and rebuild.”
On June 26, Gov. Whitmer declared a state of emergency for Wayne County as heavy rains caused flooding in businesses, homes and roads throughout the county and region.
“Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster,” a White House press release reads Thursday.
Following Additional assessments, Washtenaw County was included in Gov. Whitmer’s emergency declaration. More than 20,000 claims have already been filed by residents in the region.