By Robert Tomlinson
News Director
LANSING — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Wednesday she has requested a major disaster declaration from President Donald Trump in response to the tornados that came down in southwest Michigan, including Three Rivers, on March 6.
“These tornadoes brought heartbreaking loss and widespread destruction to Southwest Michigan,” Whitmer said in a press release. “Michigan families have lost loved ones, homes and businesses. I declared a state of emergency, but our work is just beginning. As we wrap our arms around the affected communities, we are requesting federal assistance to ensure those affected have the resources they need to recover. Let’s keep working together to keep people safe and help Michiganders rebuild.”
As previously reported, Three Rivers was one of three major locales to have been hit by tornados on March 6, along with Edwardsburg and Union City. An EF-2 tornado touched down in Three Rivers, while an EF-1 tornado touched down in Edwardsburg, killing a 12-year-old child, and an EF-3 tornado touched down in Union City along the north side of Union Lake, killing three people.
The tornados also caused significant power outages across the region and damage to a number of homes and businesses. In Three Rivers alone, approximately 330 structures were affected by the EF-2 tornado, with 12 to 15 structures having reported “catastrophic” damage.
A joint preliminary damage assessment with local, state, and federal officials, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Michigan State Police and the Small Business Association, was conducted on March 17 to assess and validate the most severely affected areas. Based on the findings, according to state officials, it was determined the damage met the threshold to request federal assistance.
“After spending multiple days on the ground with officials, I’ve seen that the devastation across our district from the recent tornadoes has been profound, and many of our neighbors are facing tremendous loss,” Rep. Tim Walberg, whose congressional district includes Branch, Cass and St. Joseph counties, said in a release. “This critical step ensures our communities can access the resources they need to rebuild and have the tools necessary to support long-term recovery. We will continue to work to support every community affected by this tragic weather event.”
“Michigan’s Branch, Cass, and St. Joseph counties have shown remarkable resilience, but these communities need the additional support that a federal disaster declaration provides,” Senator Gary Peters said in a release. “Governor Whitmer and I are working hard to ensure that Michiganders get the assistance they deserve as they work to rebuild and recover from these devastating storms.”
“From the moment the storm hit, local and state partners worked side by side to protect lives and begin response and recovery operations,” Col. James F. Grady II, director of the Michigan State Police and state director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, said in a release. “While significant progress has been made, the scope of damage requires federal support to ensure families can rebuild.”
Whitmer said in her release she has requested activation of all areas of the Individual Assistance (IA) program for Branch, Cass and St. Joseph counties. The IA program may include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-interest loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and businesses recover.
Governor Whitmer’s request will be reviewed by the FEMA, which will advise President Trump on whether a disaster declaration is warranted. The final decision rests with the president, and there is no timeline as to when a decision would be made.
Robert Tomlinson can be reached at 279-7488 or robert@wilcoxnewspapers.com.
