Lansing, Michigan – Before the water was gone, the paperwork had already begun.
Across Michigan, families were still drying out basements, business owners were still counting losses, and local officials were still walking damaged roads when Gov. Gretchen Whitmer made a second push for federal help.
This time, she asked the U.S. Small Business Administration to open low-interest disaster loans for residents, businesses and nonprofits hit by April’s severe storms and flooding.
The request seeks an SBA Rapid Administrative Disaster Declaration for Barry, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Gratiot, Kalkaska, Montcalm, Newaygo, Osceola, Presque Isle and Wexford counties.
It comes while Michigan waits for a decision on Whitmer’s June 5 request for a presidential disaster declaration, which would activate FEMA Individual Assistance for 37 counties and Public Assistance programs for 26 counties. More than 20 days have passed since that request was submitted, and the state has not yet received a determination.
“Communities across Michigan are still rebuilding from devastating storms and flooding this spring,” said Governor Whitmer.
“While we wait for a decision on our request for federal disaster assistance, this SBA declaration would provide important financial relief to support ongoing recovery efforts for families, businesses, and neighborhoods across Michigan. Let’s keep working together to help Michigan communities recover.”
The storms stretched from April 10 through April 21, with the worst impacts reported between April 13 and April 18. Michigan saw repeated rounds of thunderstorms, heavy rain, tornadoes, damaging winds, large hail and torrential rainfall. The National Weather Service issued a record 13 flash flood warnings, 24 flood warnings and 25 flood advisories in Michigan during April, and 42 counties reported damage.
For many communities, the disaster did not end when the skies cleared. Flooded roads, damaged property and business losses left residents facing a long recovery season. U.S. Senator Gary Peters said Michiganders affected by April’s storms “need all the assistance they can get to restore their livelihoods,” and called on the SBA to swiftly approve the request.
If approved, the SBA program would make loans available to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations. The money could be used to repair or replace damaged real estate, personal property, machinery, equipment, inventory and other business assets, with repayment terms based on each borrower’s financial situation.
For Michigan, the SBA request is not a replacement for FEMA aid. It is a bridge, one meant to move help faster while the larger federal disaster decision remains pending.