LANSING,MI (WTVB) – Governor Gretchen Whitmer has approved nearly $7 million in statewide disaster relief funding from the state’s Disaster and Emergency Contingency Fund (DECF).
The reimbursement grants are designated for multiple Michigan communities that exhausted local resources while responding to severe weather events, infrastructure failures, and natural disasters where federal funding was unavailable.
This financial assistance is part of a Fiscal Year 2026 budget appropriation aimed at helping local governments restore critical public services and rebuild without absorbing a lasting financial burden.
As part of the statewide allocation, Branch, Cass, and St. Joseph counties will collectively receive $547,944 to help cover emergency response and recovery costs.
Whitmer said in a release “When disaster strikes, local communities are the first to respond. We are committed to making sure they have the resources they need to recover.”
Col. James F. Grady II, director of the Michigan State Police and state director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security said “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.”
All three counties were severely impacted by a wave of violent storms and four confirmed tornadoes on March 6.
The devastating weather event caused widespread destruction to homes and businesses, overturned vehicles, and tragically resulted in four fatalities across the region, including three adults in Union City and a 12-year-old child in Cass County.
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