Governor Gretchen Whitmer has approved nearly $7 million in assistance for multiple communities impacted by severe spring and winter storms, flooding, tornadoes, and a water main break.
Some of that money is coming to the Upper Peninsula.
The reimbursement funds have been made available through the state’s Disaster and Emergency Contingency Fund (DECF), which provides financial assistance to local governments that exhausted local resources while responding to and recovering from a disaster or emergency, when federal funding is not available.
“When disaster strikes, local communities are the first to respond. We are committed to making sure they have the resources they need to recover,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “These funds help communities respond, restore critical services, and rebuild after recent disasters. Michiganders have been through a lot in the last few years, but we are strong and we will get through this together.”
The funding is part of a Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget appropriation. The announcement follows Governor Whitmer’s FY27 budget, which included an additional $10 million deposit into DECF to help support disaster response and recovery efforts across Michigan.
In the Upper Peninsula, a heavy rainfall event in Baraga County dropped up to four inches of rain overnight, causing flash flooding and significant damage to public infrastructure.
Houghton and Ontonagon counties will also be awarded $1,623,255 after a strong system of severe storms in July 2025 produced heavy rainfall of up to four inches over a four-hour period in the Western Upper Peninsula causing significant damage to roads and related structures throughout the counties. Some $709,225 will be awarded to Alcona, Alpena, Delta, Missaukee, Ogemaw, Roscommon, and Wexford counties.
The region was impacted by a severe winter storm in March 2026 that brought heavy snowfall, damaging ice accumulation, and high winds. The storm caused widespread power outages affecting homes, businesses, and hospitals, while the weight of ice and snow damaged structures throughout the region. Hazardous travel conditions and power disruptions also made it difficult to deliver home heating fuel to affected communities during the event.
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