Whitmer Looks For FEMA Extension As Feds Arrives To Assess Damage

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 04/21/2025) The federal government arrived to assess the damage caused by the northern Michigan ice storm that snapped trees, antennas and encased 12 counties in a block of ice, and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to ask for an extension for the federal emergency declaration.

Whitmer said the local damage assessments had just been completed, and the state damage assessment would take place this week. There were residents still without power after three weeks of recovery time. Whitmer called the ice storms historic and asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help.

"With recovery efforts still ongoing, I am asking FEMA for an extension to submit a major disaster declaration request, so we can get a complete picture of what resources and support these local communities need as they recover from this devastating storm," Whitmer said.

The Michigan State Police will be conducting the damage assessment with FEMA agents, local officials and Small Business Administration officials starting April 22. The goal is to collect data on the impact and if the request meets the criteria for a federal disaster declaration.

Whitmer was joined in her plea to FEMA by Northern Michigan politicians.

"Because of the magnitude of the damage, and the fact that it took weeks to even be able to access certain areas within the counties under emergency declaration, damage assessment takes much longer to accurately complete than what one may see in a shorter event like a tornado or hurricane," said Sen. John Damoose (R-Harbor Springs).

The state declared a state of emergency for Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Mackinac, Montmorency, Oscoda, Otsego and Presque Isle counties. Whitmer had also attended a meeting with President Donald Trump to ask about making a federal emergency declaration.

Rep. Parker Fairbairn (R-Harbor Springs) said it was important to get the FEMA extension to make sure they could get an accurate cost estimate.

"The state Legislature can always look at increasing support a few months down the road, if needed, but we may only get one shot at federal disaster assistance," Fairbairn said.

Rep. Cam Cavitt (R-Cheboygan) said they were still picking up the pieces and that some schools were not back in session yet.

"Our students just went through one of the most horrifying storms they will ever experience. They lost power, connection to the outside world, access to groceries, and many other necessities that no one ever thought could just disappear for weeks on end," Cavitt said.

He introduced HB 4345, which would lift minimum school hour and day requirements within the state of emergency declared areas for the 2024-2025 school year.

"Things have been hard. We need to take steps to help these kids and their families, not force them to sit in schools that lack air conditioning until July," Cavitt said.

Johannesburg-Lewiston School District Superintendent Katy Xenakis-Makowski said Montmorency County had the highest child poverty rate in Michigan and has been the last county to have power restored. She said the district already had more than 190 inches of snow before the ice storm.

"We've got days of school to make up already. Adding additional days after assessments, after Memorial Day, going past Father's Day, and towards the Fourth of July will not help instruction. We need to be focused on the basic needs of our community and helping build our kids back up," Xenasis-Makowski said.