If the request is granted, the area could qualify for federal individual assistance grants to help with home repairs, temporary housing and other recovery costs.
"I declared a state of emergency, but our work is just beginning," Whitmer said in a statement Wednesday. "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.”
The National Weather Service confirmed that four tornadoes hit southwest Michigan on the afternoon of March 6. The storm marked the state's deadliest weather event in nearly 50 years.
An EF3 tornado with winds of roughly 160 miles per hour tore through the Union City area in Branch County, injuring 12 and killing three. An EF1 tornado hit Edwardsburg in Cass County, resulting in the death of a 12-year-old boy.
An EF2 tornado with winds of at least 130 miles per hour also slammed Three Rivers in St. Joseph County and an EF0 tornado with winds peaking at about 85 mph touched down in Clarendon Township in Calhoun County.
Whitmer's request for individual assistance included the counties of Branch, Cass and St. Joseph.
“This critical step ensures our communities can access the resources they need to rebuild and have the tools necessary to support long-term recovery," said U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Tipton. "We will continue to work to support every community affected by this tragic weather event.”
Local, state, and federal officials conducted a preliminary damage assessment of the areas hit on March 17 to assess the damage and determined it met the the benchmarks for federal assistance, Whitmer said in her statement.
How many homes were damaged by the March 6 tornadoes in southwest Michigan
Officials established that across the three counties, 33 homes were destroyed, 74 sustained major damage and 207 had minor damage, Whitmer said in her letter. About 100 households may qualify for temporary housing assistance, 67 for housing repair assistance and eight for housing replacement aid. But those numbers may "severely underestimate" the impact on individuals and houses, Whitmer wrote.The letter estimated the counties needed about $1.4 million in federal individual and housing aid grants, including roughly $201,000 for temporary housing assistance, $497,000 for repair assistance, $385,000 for replacement assistance and $454,000 for other needs assistance.
The damage from the southwest Michigan tornadoes, combined with a rash of other severe weather events over the past two years, has put a strain on state aid resources, especially in light of an expected state budget shortfall, Whitmer wrote.
"I have determined that this incident is of such severity and magnitude that effective recovery is beyond the capabilities of the state of Michigan and the affected county and municipal governments, and that supplemental federal relief assistance is necessary," the governor wrote.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency will review the state's disaster declaration request and advise the president on whether to grant it.
In addition to grants for home repairs or temporary housing, individual assistance could take the form of low-interest loans to cover uninsured property or business recovery help.
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