Thousands of people across Northern Michigan continue to rely on state funds for recovery following a March ice storm that left many without power or even a home.
While the state has secured some funding for recovery efforts, the Federal Emergency Management Agency recently denied Michigan’s appeal for Public Assistance Category F and Individual Assistance funding.
Emmet County Emergency Manager Matthew Blythe said Individual Assistance is based on the number of primary homes that sustain major damage, and about 40% of Emmet County’s housing consists of second or third homes.
That meant the county did not meet the threshold for the number of primary residences critically damaged in the storm.
There is still funding available. State Rep. Parker Fairbairn of Harbor Springs said $50 million in federal funding and an additional $10 million in state budget provisions have been set aside for disaster relief.
That money will support overtime costs for law enforcement, firefighters, EMS personnel, and cleanup crews.
Fairbairn said he is also working to secure additional funding for residents through his proposed $100 million ice storm relief plan.
“As the feds said, we’re not going to get that individual assistance,” Fairbairn said. “My $100 million ice storm relief plan would give [residents] an opportunity to apply to try and get some state help, whether it was trees fell onto your property or your home insurance didn’t cover it.”
The FEMA denial also affects companies like Presque Isle Electric & Gas Cooperative, which sought reimbursement for permanent infrastructure repairs.
In a statement, the cooperative said that while FEMA’s decision limits funding under Category F, it is working with federal partners to pursue other assistance programs, including emergency response, debris removal, and storm resilience efforts.
FEMA said the state’s appeal for Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding, which supports long-term risk reduction projects, remains under review.
