Whitmer Declares State Of Emergency For 3 More Michigan Counties

LANSING, MI — Three more southeast Michigan counties have joined Wayne County under emergency declarations due to severe weather and flooding, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Thursday morning.

Whitmer's recent state of emergency declaration was amended to include Huron and Ionia counties due to tornado damage, while Washtenaw County was added to widespread flooding, according to Whitmer's office.

“The residents of these three counties have suffered significant hardship due to the recent severe weather,” Whitmer said in a statement. “Adding the counties to the declaration commits available state resources to help the communities as they rebuild and recover.”

Related: FEMA To Assess Wayne County Flood Damage Thursday

Whitmer declared a state of emergency for Wayne County on June 26 after heavy rainfall caused severe flooding, damaging infrastructure and private property. Huron, Ionia and Washtenaw counties were added to the emergency declaration following the completion of local damage assessments.

By declaring a state of emergency, the state will make available all state resources in cooperation with local response and recovery efforts in the disaster area as outlined in the Michigan Emergency Management Plan, officials said.

The declaration authorizes the MSP/EMHSD to coordinate state efforts above and beyond what MSP/EMHSD has already been doing in conjunction with local agencies.

All three counties added to the emergency declaration Thursday had previously declared a local state of emergency, activating local emergency response and recovery plans. By requesting a governor’s declaration, the counties determined local resources are insufficient to address the situation and state assistance is required to protect public health, safety and property to lessen or avert the threat of an emergency.