FEMA denies disaster relief for Southwest Michigan after May 7 tornadoes

PORTAGE, MI – Federal officials have rejected Michigan’s request for federal assistance to help local communities recover from damaging tornadoes and storms that tore through Southwest Michigan on May 7.

In a July 23 letter, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) denied Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s request for a major disaster declaration for Branch, Cass, Kalamazoo and St. Joseph counties, according to a copy of the letter provided to MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette by state Sen. Sean McCann’s office.

Whitmer sent a letter to President Joe Biden on June 6 requesting a major disaster declaration and activation of the federal individual assistance programs for the four Southwest Michigan counties that were hit by severe storms and multiple tornadoes in May.

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said in her response to Whitmer that the four affected counties did not meet the need for federal assistance.

“Based on our review of all of the information available, it has been determined that the damage from this event was not of such severity and magnitude as to be beyond the capabilities of the state, affected local governments, and voluntary agencies,” Criswell wrote. “Accordingly, we have determined that supplemental federal assistance is not necessary. Therefore, I must inform you that your request for a major disaster declaration is denied.”

Whitmer can appeal FEMA’s denial within 30 days, Criswell said.

McCann, D-Kalamazoo, said he was “dismayed” to learn that FEMA had denied the request for disaster assistance following the devastating tornado. He said he has asked the governor to appeal the decision.

“It is a disappointing determination that impacts real people,” McCann said in a statement.

McCann said even without FEMA’s assistance, there is some state funding on the way.

“In the upcoming state budget, I was proud to have helped secure more than $3 million in funding to provide relief to the affected communities and the impacted people in my district,” he said. “The budget, recently passed by the Legislature, will also put the maximum amount into the State Disaster Emergency Contingency Fund so that there will be money already available for future disasters.”

Will Portage tornado be a ‘federal disaster’? Damage isn’t the only factor

Earlier this month, the U.S. Small Business Administration issued a rapid disaster declaration allowing businesses, renters and homeowners in Kalamazoo County to request low-interest loans to repair or replace real estate, personal property and business assets damaged or destroyed in the May 7 storms.

The declaration also included Allegan, Barry, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, St. Joseph and Van Buren counties.

An EF2 tornado touched down in Kalamazoo County on May 7, leaving hundreds of buildings damaged, many in the city of Portage.

The tornado was one of the strongest to hit the county in the past 40 years. With wind speeds of 135 mph, the May 7 tornado was only 5 mph shy of a 1980 F3 tornado that had 140 mph wind speeds.

Three other tornadoes touched down on May 7: An EF2 tornado in St. Joseph and Branch Counties, an EF1 tornado in Branch County and an EF1 tornado in Cass County.

FEMA officials arrived in Southwest Michigan a week after the tornadoes to assess the damage. The assessment found that in Kalamazoo County, 60 structures had been destroyed, 129 structures had major damage and 159 sustained minor damage in the storms.

Portage tornado assessment: 60 buildings destroyed, 129 with major damage

FEMA assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and programs to help people and businesses recover from the disaster.

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