(WWJ) FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) has granted Governor Gretchen Whitmer's request to expand the Major Disaster Declaration to include households in Macomb and Oakland counties following record rainfall and flooding in late June.
Originally, the Disaster Declaration only included Wayne and Washtenaw counties.
"I want to thank the Biden Administration for their continued partnership in securing additional assistance for Michigan families. FEMA's decision to grant our request for individual assistance is welcome news for Michiganders in Oakland and Macomb counties who have been impacted by unprecedented flooding this summer," Governor Whitmer said in a release. "We are going to do everything in our power to ensure that Michiganders get the assistance they need to recover from these storms. And we have an opportunity under the bipartisan infrastructure bill to make long-term upgrades to our infrastructure to ensure that local systems can handle historic rainfall going forward."
The federal declaration makes residents in Macomb and Oakland counties eligible to apply for individual assistance including grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and additional programs.
The torrents of rain on June 25 and 26 caused widespread flooding in southeast Michigan, "damaging infrastructure and private property;" a press release from the governor's office read.
The following day, Whitmer declared a state of emergency for Wayne County (eventually adding Huron, Ionia and Washtenaw counties). In doing so, it freed up all state resources to help residents in conjunction with local response and recovery efforts.
About three weeks later, she wrote to President Biden requesting he declare an emergency disaster for the state of Michigan. Within a couple days, he issued a disaster declaration for individual assistance in Wayne and Washtenaw counties.
Late last month, Whitmer wrote to the president requesting he expand the disaster to Oakland and Macomb. FEMA originally denied the request. On Friday, Whitmer sent an appeal to FEMA—which was granted.
Application Information:
Only homeowners and renters who suffered damage in the June 25 and June 26 flooding are eligible.
There are multiple ways to apply.
-Call 800-621-3362. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service. The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET, seven days a week.
-Go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov.
-Download the FEMA App.
If you live in Macomb or Oakland county and have already registered with FEMA since July 15, 2021, you do not need to apply again. If you're unsure whether you've submitted an application, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 to verify your status. When you apply for assistance, have the following information readily available:
-A current phone number where you can be contacted;
-Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are now staying;
-Your Social Security number;
-A general list of damage and losses, and
-Private insurance information, if available
The deadline to apply is October 13.
