UNION CITY, MI (WTVB) – Governor Gretchen Whitmer formally requested a major disaster declaration from President Donald Trump Wednesday to secure federal assistance for residents in Branch, Cass, and St. Joseph counties following a deadly tornado outbreak last month.
The March 6 storm produced four confirmed tornadoes, including an EF-3 with winds of 160 mph, resulting in four fatalities and at least 22 injuries, marking the state’s deadliest weather event in nearly 50 years.
In a statement Whitmer said “I declared a state of emergency, but our work is just beginning. As we wrap our arms around the affected communities, we are requesting federal assistance to ensure those affected have the resources they need to recover,”
If approved, the declaration will activate the Individual Assistance (IA) program, offering direct financial aid for home repairs, temporary housing, and low-interest loans for uninsured losses.
Following a joint damage assessment, Gov. Whitmer declared the destruction exceeds local capacity, noting that federal aid is critical to helping communities recover and rebuild.
The request is now under review by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) before a final decision is made by President Trump. Local leaders in southwest Michigan await this decision to initiate further recovery efforts for residents.
U.S. Senator Gary Peters, a Democrat, and Republican Congressman Tim Walberg joined Whitmer in asking for the disaster declaration.
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