On Thursday, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer approved nearly $7 million in assistance for multiple communities impacted by severe spring and winter storms, flooding, tornadoes, and a water main break. 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 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.
“Maintaining a strong state public assistance fund is essential to ensuring Michigan communities have access to critical support when disasters overwhelm local resources,” said Col. James F. Grady II, director of the Michigan State Police and state director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security. “Whether it's severe storms, flooding, tornadoes, or other emergencies, disasters can place significant and unexpected costs on local governments. Having these funds available allows communities to respond, recover, and rebuild without leaving a lasting financial burden that could affect services to local residents down the road.”
As part of this allocation, $223,986 will be awarded to Oakland County for the May 2026 Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) 42-inch transmission main rupture which caused widespread loss of water pressure and service. to several communities.
A total of $1,924,692 will be allocated to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to meet the state's 25% cost-share requirement under the FEMA Public Assistance major disaster declaration for costs incurred by state agencies during the 2026 Cheboygan Dam and statewide flooding disaster.
DECF?awards?can be applied toward the eligible costs of response and recovery efforts from a disaster or emergency, including items such as overtime for public employees, contracts used during the response, shelter supplies, gasoline used during the response, and repair of public buildings and infrastructure.??
For additional information on how to prepare before, during and after an emergency or disaster, visit www.michigan.gov/miready?and follow MSP/EMHSD on?X?and?Facebook.
“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 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.
“Maintaining a strong state public assistance fund is essential to ensuring Michigan communities have access to critical support when disasters overwhelm local resources,” said Col. James F. Grady II, director of the Michigan State Police and state director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security. “Whether it's severe storms, flooding, tornadoes, or other emergencies, disasters can place significant and unexpected costs on local governments. Having these funds available allows communities to respond, recover, and rebuild without leaving a lasting financial burden that could affect services to local residents down the road.”
As part of this allocation, $223,986 will be awarded to Oakland County for the May 2026 Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) 42-inch transmission main rupture which caused widespread loss of water pressure and service. to several communities.
A total of $1,924,692 will be allocated to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to meet the state's 25% cost-share requirement under the FEMA Public Assistance major disaster declaration for costs incurred by state agencies during the 2026 Cheboygan Dam and statewide flooding disaster.
DECF?awards?can be applied toward the eligible costs of response and recovery efforts from a disaster or emergency, including items such as overtime for public employees, contracts used during the response, shelter supplies, gasoline used during the response, and repair of public buildings and infrastructure.??
For additional information on how to prepare before, during and after an emergency or disaster, visit www.michigan.gov/miready?and follow MSP/EMHSD on?X?and?Facebook.
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