Federal Help for Homeowners Available After Severe August Storms. President Joe Biden Declares Federal Emergency for Nine Michigan Counties

Information provided by Emergency Management Director Therese Cremonte

Home and business owners in nine Michigan counties are now eligible for federal assistance to help recover from damages caused by severe storms, tornadoes and flooding in August 2023.

On February 8, President Joe Biden approved Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration in Eaton, Ingham, Ionia, Kent, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland and Wayne counties.
The declaration now opens the application process for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Individual Assistance (IA) for affected residents.

This FEMA assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

On August 23-24, residents of Livingston County experienced storms that caused damage to homes, businesses, and personal property.
Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance at https://www.disasterassistance.gov or by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), or by using the FEMA App. Anyone using a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, can give FEMA the number for that service.

Local Disaster Recovery Centers will also be set up for those who need help applying in person. Once those centers have been identified that information will be made available through the WHMI website, Livingston County Emergency Management social media sites, and by contacting local city, village, and township offices.