MARQUETTE, MI— FEMA has denied Michigan’s appeal for disaster relief for spring flooding in the West and Central Upper Peninsula.
Floods affected Baraga, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Marquette, and Ontonagon counties.
The agency and the White House said the areas didn’t meet the damage criteria for federal aid. Marquette County Emergency Manager Brian Hummel says there’s some differing opinion on the way the dollar amount was reached.
“We feel that we met the threshold, so we’re certainly in disagreement with the President’s determination. It’s unfortunate that we won’t receive any federal assistance, for this disaster’s substantial in size and in financial impact to the communities across the central and western Upper Peninsula.”
Marquette County alone suffered around $8 million in flood damage. Hummel says the region will get up to $500,000 from the state, which won’t go far.
FEMA initially denied funding for the U.P. in September. The state worked with local emergency managers and submitted an appeal. The Small Business Administration also denied funding for homes and businesses damaged by the floods.
