Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has declared a state of emergency for Branch, Cass, and St. Joseph counties to assist with response and recovery efforts related to a deadly tornado outbreak in southwest Michigan.
On March 6, multiple tornadoes touched down across the region, causing widespread damage, injuries and loss of life. Three people were killed when an EF-3 tornado struck Union City in Branch County. According to the National Weather Service, it is the deadliest tornado in Michigan since 1980. Another tornado in Cass County claimed one life.
“This state of emergency declaration will ensure that every state resource is available to assist in recovery efforts from the devastating tornadoes on Friday,” Whitmer said. “Our entire state is wrapping its arms around Three Rivers, Union City, Edwardsburg, and everywhere in between. Our hearts are with the families who lost loved ones and the Michiganders who were injured.”
Whitmer on Sunday toured the impacted areas with Michigan State Police to assess the damage.
By declaring a state of emergency, Whitmer has authorized the use of all available state resources to assist local response and recovery operations in the affected counties. The MSP Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division (EMHSD) is coordinating the state’s emergency response through the State Emergency Operations Center.
The declaration also allows eligible communities to seek financial assistance under Section 19 of Michigan’s Emergency Management Act (Public Act 390 of 1976, as amended). The funding helps local governments cover emergency response costs and repair public infrastructure damaged by the storms.
Additional state and federal disaster assistance programs may also be pursued as damage assessments continue.
On March 6, multiple tornadoes touched down across the region, causing widespread damage, injuries and loss of life. Three people were killed when an EF-3 tornado struck Union City in Branch County. According to the National Weather Service, it is the deadliest tornado in Michigan since 1980. Another tornado in Cass County claimed one life.
“This state of emergency declaration will ensure that every state resource is available to assist in recovery efforts from the devastating tornadoes on Friday,” Whitmer said. “Our entire state is wrapping its arms around Three Rivers, Union City, Edwardsburg, and everywhere in between. Our hearts are with the families who lost loved ones and the Michiganders who were injured.”
Whitmer on Sunday toured the impacted areas with Michigan State Police to assess the damage.
By declaring a state of emergency, Whitmer has authorized the use of all available state resources to assist local response and recovery operations in the affected counties. The MSP Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division (EMHSD) is coordinating the state’s emergency response through the State Emergency Operations Center.
The declaration also allows eligible communities to seek financial assistance under Section 19 of Michigan’s Emergency Management Act (Public Act 390 of 1976, as amended). The funding helps local governments cover emergency response costs and repair public infrastructure damaged by the storms.
Additional state and federal disaster assistance programs may also be pursued as damage assessments continue.
