LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – The appeal for federal assistance to help repair damages from last May’s snow melt has been denied. In September, the Federal Emergency Management Agency denied an application for assistance with flood damages totaling over $10 million.
Last week, FEMA reaffirmed that decision following an appeal filed by the Michigan State Police in October, stating the impact does not surpass the capabilities of the state and local governments.
U.P. state representatives Greg Markkanen and Jenn Hill said it was disappointing the assistance was denied again, and that they worry about the damages worsening as winter weather picks up.
state representatives Greg Markkanen and Jenn Hill said it’s disappointing to see FEMA reaffirm its original decision, and that they worry about the damages worsening as winter weather picks up.
“Our road commissions in the western U.P. do a phenomenal job, but they can’t do repairs with no funding.” Representative Markkanen said. “We’re very concerned. we’re going to have a meeting on Monday and see what direction we can go in.”
Representative Hill said the road commissions don’t have the resources to repair the damages that have been left unfixed since the spring, and that with extreme weather events becoming more common, the way funding is allocated needs to be reassessed.
“The concern is that we aren’t really addressing the extreme weather events that we’re now seeing in our current FEMA process,” Representative Hill said. “And this extreme weather, unfortunately, it’s going to happen more often. We need to figure out a better way to do this.”
The representatives say they’re already meeting with the Michigan State Police and County Road Commissions to determine the next steps toward accessing funding to address the repairs.
