North Michigan News

State Representative Ken Borton has expressed his support for a legislative measure aimed at securing recovery funds for Northern Michigan following severe ice storms. The proposal seeks to acquire $300 million for recovery, with $75 million coming from state allocations to leverage an additional $225 million from federal funds.

"The pictures and videos cannot show the amount of devastation that’s up here," said Borton, R-Gaylord. He emphasized the extraordinary extent of the damage, comparing it to category five hurricanes. "I’ve talked to linemen who have worked across the country, and they’ve told me they’ve worked category five hurricanes that weren’t this bad. This widespread damage was unprecedented."

Borton highlighted ongoing challenges, including power outages and the accumulation of debris. "We still have thousands of people who don’t have power and many who can’t get to their homes... We’ve exhausted our resources to the point that it’s created a tinderbox we need to address immediately."

House Bill 4328 outlines the allocation of $75 million in state funds for relief efforts. These funds would be used for disaster relief grants, emergency management assistance, warming center operations, emergency supplies, debris cleanup, unemployment benefits, temporary jobs for displaced workers, energy assistance, and infrastructure repair or replacement.

Rep. Borton and supporters of the bill underscore the urgency and importance of securing the funds to aid the affected communities in recovering and rebuilding.