LANSING, MI-- Governor Rick Snyder has sent FEMA a letter appealing its decision to deny individual assistance to Houghton, Gogebic and Menominee counties for flood damage.
A presidential disaster declaration was issued and public assistance approved earlier this month, but FEMA said the damage wasn’t severe enough to warrant aid to homeowners.
Snyder’s letter provides additional information about unmet community needs and asks FEMA to reconsider. He says the concentrated damages caused by the flooding are unprecedented. The appeal also says the disaster has caused extraordinary trauma in the community; a lack of financial resources among many residents to make necessary repairs; decreasing voluntary agency assistance; and a lack of insurance coverage that may force residents to occupy unsafe homes.
Individual assistance can include grants for temporary housing and uninsured home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs.
