Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer declared a
state of emergency for the counties of Otsego, Oscoda, Montmorency, Presque Isle, Emmet, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Mackinac and Alpena to help with response and recovery efforts to the communities affected by the ice storms that caused thousands of residents to be without power and basic necessities.
“This morning, I’m declaring a state of emergency to get help out the door as fast as possible for Michiganders hit by the ice storm,” said Governor Whitmer. “Yesterday, I activated our State Emergency Operations Center to coordinate our response. State and local emergency teams are already on the ground, and we will continue collaborating with local first responders too. I want to thank everyone working hard to keep people safe. We will get through this together.”
Over the weekend an ice storm passed through the area of lower Northern Michigan which toppled trees, took down power lines and caused dangerous driving conditions. Utility companies are working to restore power to thousands of homes.
The counties of Oscoda, Alpena, Otsego, Montmorency, Cheboygan and Emmet had declared local declarations. However local resources have proven insufficient to address the situation as residents in the region suffered power outages, including loss of backup generators, loss of phone and cellular services, and impassable roads due to downed trees and other debris.
The declaration of a local state of emergency activates local emergency response and recovery plans. By requesting a governor’s declaration, these counties have determined local resources are insufficient to address the situation, and state assistance is required to protect the health, safety, and property to lessen or avert the threat of a crisis.
By declaring a state of emergency, Governor Whitmer has made available all state resources in cooperation with local response and recovery efforts in the designated areas. The declaration provides that the Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division (MSP/EMHSD) will coordinate state efforts.
For more information on how to prepare before, during and after an emergency or disaster, visit
Michigan.gov/miready or follow MSP/EMHSD on X at
@MSPNorthernMI.
