North Michigan News

State Representative Ken Borton, a Republican from Gaylord, expressed his support on Friday for Governor Gretchen Whitmer's request for a Presidential Emergency Declaration following severe storms in Northern Michigan. The storms, described as a "once-in-a-generation" event, caused widespread destruction, leaving over 100,000 homes and businesses without power and making hundreds of miles of roads impassable.

Rep. Borton released a statement highlighting the importance of federal assistance in the recovery efforts. "There are a lot of people standing behind President Trump in Northern Michigan. Now we need him to back us up in our time of need. This emergency declaration and the federal funding it would bring are crucial to recovery efforts in our rural communities," he said.

He underscored the severity of the storms, noting the unexpected level of destruction they caused. "No one could’ve imagined the level of destruction it caused. Every bit of damage comes with a price tag. Every first responder and frontline worker putting in overtime has to be paid," Borton stated.

Borton expressed agreement with Governor Whitmer on the financial strain posed by recovery efforts. "I’m glad the governor recognizes the massive financial burden these recovery efforts have on our Northern Michigan community. We’re working our tails off to secure relief at the state level – bringing the conversation to Washington D.C. is the next step toward securing the resources we need," he remarked.

If approved, the sought-after emergency declaration would allow for up to $5 million in immediate public assistance to aid in recovery from the storm's impact. The situation in Northern Michigan underscored the challenges faced by rural communities in handling large-scale natural disasters without federal support.