TRAVERSE CITY — Northern Michigan communities say they’re starting to pick up the pieces after the powerful winter storm.
More than half a dozen counties have now received state emergency declarations, which are already helping make more resources available for those in need.
Those counties include Alcona, Alpena, Delta, Missaukee, Ogemaw, Roscommon and Wexford.
Vanessa Varner, emergency management director for Roscommon County, told 9&10 News that both state and local declarations will make more resources available during the cleanup and recovery processes.
“We know that while our responders have had an amazing response for immediate, it’s not something that we’re going to be able to sustain in the long term,” she said. “We’re also going to need assistance with the recovery process and making sure that we get all of the debris cleaned up and disposed of properly.”
After the worst of the storm, close to 90% of Roscommon County was without power.
Varner said about half of residents have since had their power restored. Later Wednesday night, an additional third of residents had power restored.
“Our first responders have been going around and trying to assist with clearing roads, along with our road commission,” Varner said. “They’ve brought in crews from other counties to assist with that. We’re staying very busy trying to try to take care of things.”
Mike Bowers, emergency management director for Ogemaw County, says that he anticipates some lasting challenges from the weather.
“I can see six months and nine months out still that they are going to be dealing with the effects of the storm,” he said. “And some people are going to have situations with their property that will never be the same again.”
Lauren Thompson-Phillips is public information officer for the Michigan State Police Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division.
She said multiple communities have requested help, largely from the Michigan Department of Transportation.
“We’ve had requests for tree crews, for manpower, for plow trucks — pretty much anything that you can imagine — that we can get out on those roads to get them cleared, to allow people to move freely in and out of their homes,” she said.
Thompson-Phillips also said the state received a request for a mobile oxygen tanker, which provides oxygen for patients who need it.