Residents in 27 counties across Michigan may be eligible for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for damage caused by extreme April weather.
Many areas were impacted by rainfall and intense flooding conditions. The flooding caused a variety of infrastructure concerns in the region, including road washouts and extended closures on M-119, rising water levels at the Cheboygan Lock and Dam Complex that prompted a state of emergency declaration and evacuation preparation, canceled flights at the Pellston Regional Airport and more. Private property was also impacted, with many docks, yards and homes suffering damage along waterways and other flooded areas.
President Donald Trump approved Michigan’s request for a major disaster declaration on July 2, which opens FEMA Individual Assistance programs for 27 counties, including: Alcona, Allegan, Alpena, Antrim, Barry, Benzie, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Gratiot, Iosco, Kalamazoo, Kalkaska, Manistee, Mecosta, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Osceola, Presque Isle, Roscommon, Saginaw, Washtenaw and Wexford. The FEMA Public Assistance program is also available to 26 counties.
According to a July 3 update from FEMA, this means that residents with damage to their primary home, personal property loss or disaster-related emergency needs caused by the April storms and flooding may apply for FEMA assistance. If residents have homeowners, renters or flood insurance, they should file a claim with their agency before applying for FEMA assistance.
To apply for FEMA assistance, visit DisasterAssistance.gov. You will need to provide the following:
FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers and SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Centers will be set up in local communities for in-person assistance. For additional questions, the FEMA Helpline is available at 1-800-621-3362.
For more information, visit michigan.gov/msp/divisions/emhsd/2026-disaster-assistance.
— Contact Jillian Fellows at jfellows@petoskeynews.com.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: How to file a claim for FEMA assistance for spring flooding damage
Reporting by Jillian Fellows, The Petoskey News-Review / The Petoskey News-Review
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jillian Fellows, The Petoskey News-Review | USA TODAY Network
