Governor Gretchen Whitmer today appealed the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) denial of statewide activation for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), a crucial assistance program designed to enhance local preparedness and reduce future disaster risks. This appeal follows severe April storms, flooding, and tornadoes that devastated multiple Michigan communities, leading FEMA to declare Major Disaster status for 37 counties in June.
While FEMA activated Individual Assistance and Public Assistance programs for the affected counties, the request for statewide HMGP activation, which would benefit all 83 counties, was denied on July 8, 2026. The HMGP provides funding for projects like infrastructure updates that make communities more resilient against natural disasters.
"Hazard mitigation helps Michigan communities be resilient and ready for any future disasters," said Governor Whitmer. She added, "The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program is an important asset to keep these communities prepared for the future. I am urging FEMA to reconsider their decision and activate the HMGP for all 83 counties in Michigan." U.S. Senator Gary Peters also urged the Trump Administration to "swiftly approve this request so that folks in our state can get the federal assistance they deserve without further delays." Congresswoman Debbie Dingell emphasized, "The federal government must stand by Michiganders recovering from this disaster."
The appeal highlights the program's cost-effectiveness, citing its positive benefit-cost ratio and reliance on local identification of hazards. Past successful HMGP-funded projects in Michigan include storm sewer improvements in Wayne County, culvert upgrades in Washtenaw County, and a water detention basin in Bay County, demonstrating the program's tangible benefits in reducing damages and costs.