The state of Michigan is setting aside more money for future disasters and emergencies.
This past week, Gov. Rick Snyder signed a bill to raise the cap on Michigan’s Disaster and Emergency Contingency Fund from $4.5 million to $10 million.
The fund provides state assistance to counties and municipalities when federal assistance is not available.
The money can be applied toward costs associated with the response to a disaster or emergency, covering overtime for public employees, contracts, shelter supplies, gasoline and repair of public buildings and roads.
Most recently, the state used the fund to cover costs with the Flint water crisis. In recent years, the fund has also been tapped for flooding in Grand Rapids and severe storms in Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties.
