Gov. Gretchen Whitmer secured a disaster declaration from President Donald Trump July 23 for ongoing recovery efforts in Northern Michigan following severe ice storms in the winter of 2025.
Whitmer had requested a disaster declaration back in May following the storms in March.
“Yesterday, I spoke to President Trump who confirmed that communities in Northern Michigan impacted by the historic ice storm damage earlier this year will start to receive federal disaster funding,” Whitmer said in a statement. The support will help cover cleanup costs associated with the recovery, Whitmer said, and she thanked Trump and Michigan’s congressional delegation for their support while emphasizing she still awaits further action. “Michiganders across the state stepped up to help our neighbors, and while other parts of our request remain under review, we will continue advocating together to help Northern Michigan recover and rebuild,” she added.
Trump said on his social media platform that he had approved $50 million for Michigan, according to multiple news reports.
Whitmer had previously met with Trump at the White House to seek federal assistance for storm recovery efforts.
Trump’s declaration means the Federal Emergency Management Agency can provide reimbursement for local governments, nonprofits and tribal agencies for expenses such as debris removal and infrastructure repairs, according to a news release from Whitmer’s office announcing her request for a disaster declaration.
The counties that qualify for support following Trump’s approval of the request include Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Kalkaska, Mackinac, Montmorency, Oscoda, Otsego and Presque Isle along with the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, according to Whitmer’s latest news release. But her request for additional support, including assistance for homeowners and renters, is still undergoing federal review, according to the governor’s office.
Since Trump entered office, Whitmer — a Democrat with a national profile — has sought to collaborate with the Trump administration on her policy priorities for Michigan. When Trump approved a new fighter jet mission at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Whitmer cited it as evidence that her open approach to Trump was working. Trump also took a step to protect the Great Lakes from invasive Asian Carp following advocacy on the issue by Whitmer and Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Richland Township.
But Whitmer’s goal of landing a semiconductor plant before she leaves office faced a major setback when a company announced it wouldn’t build a factory in the U.S., a decision the governor said stems from uncertainty in the national economy, which she said could be exacerbated by tariffs. Whitmer told reporters she spoke to Trump after the deal fell through. Trump promised “‘an even better deal for Michigan,'” Whitmer said.
Contact Clara Hendrickson at chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Whitmer secures disaster declaration from Trump for Northern Michigan storms
Reporting by Clara Hendrickson, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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