UNION CITY, MI (WTVB) – Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer is formally appealing the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) decision to deny federal disaster assistance to residents affected by the deadly tornadoes that swept through Southwest Michigan on March 6.
The outbreak, which featured multiple twisters ranging from EF-0 to EF-3 in strength claimed four lives and caused catastrophic damage across Branch, Cass, and St. Joseph counties.
In a letter dated May 31, FEMA had rejected the state’s request for the Individual Assistance (IA) program and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), shutting off critical financial lifelines for families dealing with uninsured or underinsured property losses.
Col. James F. Grady II, director of the Michigan State Police and Michigan Emergency Management and Homeland Security says “We encourage those affected by the March tornadoes to take advantage of the recovery resources that are currently available while Governor Whitmer continues to seek additional federal assistance,”
Following the federal denial , Gov. Whitmer reaffirmed her commitment to assisting the recovering communities, saying she will keep fighting to deliver the resources her residents deserve.
The application under appeal is specifically for the March 6 tornadoes, which were the first of the 2026 season in Michigan. There have now been 22 tornadoes confirmed this year in the state.
Michigan normally gets 15 to 17 tornadoes a year, with the record set in 1974 when 39 tornadoes were confirmed.
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