Release Date: September 24, 2003

Lansing, MI – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm announced today that the State of Michigan was notified that it has been authorized to receive Federal disaster assistance as a result of the blackout that occurred last month.

The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today that President Bush has authorized the release of limited emergency funds for Michigan to help cover some of the costs incurred by state and local government in responding to last month's power outage. The emergency declaration does not authorize any assistance to individuals.

"I am pleased that FEMA has stepped up to the plate to help our state and local agencies who were impacted by the power outage," Granholm said. "Our first responders acted quickly and professionally to deal with the black-out. Their actions kept injuries and property damage to a minimum, yet many local units of government incurred large expenses, such as overtime pay. These funds will help them offset those costs so they will not be passed along to the taxpayers."

According to FEMA Undersecretary Mike Brown, the emergency declaration authorizes FEMA to provide up to $5 million in federal funds to reimburse the state and affected local governments at 75 percent federal share for the costs of emergency measures taken to save lives, protect property, and insure public health and safety during the period of August 14-17, 2003.

Michigan was one of the hardest hit states in this emergency because 25 power plants in the state were affected and the state was the last one to come back on line.

Collectively, the state of Michigan and the affected local governments in this emergency expended nearly $20.4 million on emergency measures to save lives, protect public health and safety, and prevent damage to public and private property.

The following 14 counties are eligible for the assistance: Calhoun, Eaton, Genesee, Hillsdale, Ingham, Kalamazoo, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw and Wayne.

The Michigan State Police Emergency Management Division is coordinating the assistance with eligible applicants. "We want to stress the fact that this assistance is for eligible governmental agencies that worked to ensure the safety of our communities during the blackout. The Federal emergency declaration does not provide any assistance to individuals or businesses that suffered losses", stated Captain John Ort, Commanding Officer of the Emergency Management Division.