© 2024 WNMU-FM
Upper Great Lakes News, Music, and Arts & Culture
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

President approves disaster request for U.P. counties

LANSING, MI-- The following was released from Governor Rick Snyder's office:

Gov. Rick Snyder today announced President Donald Trump has declared a major disaster area for three counties in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula due to severe storms on June 16-17 that resulted in severe flood damage. The affected counties include: Houghton, Gogebic and 

Menominee.

“As Michiganders continue to recover from this devastating flood, we are exploring every avenue for assistance,” said Gov. Snyder. “This presidential declaration is an important step in providing additional aid to those communities affected by this disaster.”

With this declaration, communities statewide are now also eligible to participate in the hazard mitigation assistance program that can help reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property from natural hazards. Mitigation measures reduce personal loss, save lives and lessen the cost of responding to and recovering from future disasters.

“Hazard mitigation assistance can help communities enhance the safety of Michigan residents,” said Capt. Emmitt McGowan, state deputy director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and commander of the Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division (MSP/EMHSD). “I encourage communities to take advantage of this opportunity to implement projects to prevent loss of life and protect property.”

In addition to the presidential declaration for public assistance and hazard mitigation assistance, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has made low-interest disaster loans available to residents and businesses in Houghton, Gogebic and Menominee counties. Additional information about the SBA disaster assistance program is available at www.sba.gov. The presidential declaration does not include assistance for individuals and businesses.

Nicole was born near Detroit but has lived in the U.P. most of her life. She graduated from Marquette Senior High School and attended Michigan State and Northern Michigan Universities, graduating from NMU in 1993 with a degree in English.