Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is asking for a federal major disaster declaration for five Michigan counties still recovering from May floods.
In her letter to President Donald Trump, Gov. Whitmer says Midland, Gladwin, Iosco, Saginaw, and Arenac counties suffered a quarter billion dollars (at least $190 million for residents and over $55 million public infrastructure) in damage from flooding last month.
The area saw heavy rains in the middle of last month. The resulting floods inundated homes and washed away roads. The heavy rain also led to two dams failing, sending torrents of water down the Tittabawassee River which crested at a record level in Midland.
A major disaster declaration provides a wide range of federal assistance programs for individuals and public infrastructure, including funds for both emergency and permanent work.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story reported the damage was a quarter million dollars. The correct number is a quarter billion dollars.
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