Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has expanded the state of emergency declaration for this week’s devastating floods to include Arenac, Gladwin, and Saginaw Counties.
The original declaration covered only Midland County.
The declaration will ensure additional law enforcement support, road repair assistance and other resources to the affected counties.
Parts of the four-county region received more than 8 inches of rain from Sunday to Monday. The resulting floods damaged roads and property.
Speaker Pro Tempore Rep. Jason Wentworth (R-Clare) says expanding the state of emergency declaration “is exactly what we needed.”
“There are still people in desperate need across Gladwin and Arenac counties,” says Wentworth, “but this declaration will provide the much needed support and additional boots on the ground from the state.”
While Midland County received more attention for its record setting flood, the other three counties have had their challenges as well.
Rising waters prompted evacuations, including approximately 500 residents in Arenac County, over 100 residents in Gladwin County, and approximately 750 residents in Saginaw County.
Thursday, President Donald Trump signed an emergency declaration that opens the door to federal assistance to Midland County.
