April 30, 2004

LANSING Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today formally requested that President Bush declare a major disaster for the state of Michigan as a result of the dangers to public safety caused by the widespread and severe infestation of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in six southeast Michigan counties.  Granholm said this unique disaster is of such severity and magnitude in the affected areas that an effective response is beyond the capabilities of the state and the affected local governments, which is why she is seeking the major disaster declaration from the federal government.

Because our dead and dying ash trees are in very close proximity to homes, businesses, schools, and other facilities, I want to prevent personal injury and property damage by taking proactive action to remove any threat posed by the affected ash trees,” Granholm said. “Collectively, we simply don’t have the financial, human, and material resources needed to tackle a problem of this magnitude.  Federal assistance is necessary to prevent a catastrophic threat to our local communities.

In her letter to the President dated today, which is Arbor Day in Michigan and across the country, Granholm outlined a request for public assistance grant monies to provide debris removal and disposal assistance to state and affected governments; and, hazard mitigation grant monies to help state and local governments reduce the threat of future infestations and tree damage.  Response and mitigation expenditures are expected to exceed $163,134,750.

The Governor’s request is unprecedented in seeking federal disaster relief to eliminate a catastrophic threat to the state’s citizens and resources.  She has taken the necessary steps to qualify for the major disaster declaration by declaring a state of emergency for the six core EAB affected counties of Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Washtenaw, and Wayne.  Further, she has directed the Michigan State Police Emergency Management Division to execute a state of emergency plan to address the crisis as well.

Granholm explained that ash trees infested by EAB are either dead or dying and present a significant danger to public safety because of their dry, brittle, and deteriorating condition.  Unfortunately, these trees are highly vulnerable to partial or complete collapse in the event of high winds, heavy rains, or ice accumulation.  These dead and dying trees also pose an extreme fire hazard.

The request letter was forwarded today to the Region V office of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).  FEMA evaluates the request and recommends action to the White House.  This decision process could take one to several weeks.

While the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA), and now the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), have initiated a quarantine that remains in effect, the problem continues to escalate, and funding and resources are quickly dwindling.   Michigan has received nearly $29 million to date from the federal government, which includes funds to Michigan entities like MDA, the Department of Natural Resources and Michigan State University, as well as the resources federal agencies have spent to help address EAB in Michigan.

It is also anticipated that Michigan collectively will receive a significant portion of the $28.2 million recently allocated by the USDA and the Office of Management and Budget, though a final determination and distribution still has not been made.

The EAB is native to Asia and was previously unknown in North America until it was found in Michigan in the summer of 2002.  Emerald Ash Borer has already devastated approximately six million ash trees, most of which are still standing in an extremely fragile state.  The EAB continues to damage or destroy trees in the six-county core zone in southeast Michigan as well as infest other areas in various counties and communities due to the pre-quarantine movement of ash materials or firewood or natural spread.  Michigan has been working to detect, contain and eradicate EAB since its initial discovery.  The state has an active, multi-agency Emerald Ash Borer task force working collectively to control and eradicate EAB and minimize its damage.