Snyder Seeks Federal Disaster Declaration After Southeast Michigan Flooding

On Wednesday, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder requested President Obama declare a major disaster for the state of Michigan as a result of the flash flooding the occurred in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties in early August. The request came at the end of an in-depth, two week long assessment of damage to the area.

According to a news release, Snyder requested supplementary federal aid in the form of individual assistance and public assistance to help eligible residents and state and local governments entities because of the severe and magnitude of the flooding. If federal aid is granted, assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low cost loans to cover uninsured property losses. Public assistance helps cover some of the costs incurred by state and local governments due to damage to public facilities and infrastructures, such as schools and roads.

Snyder said "so many communities were devastated by the historic flood, and we're looking for every available resource to help them them recover. I was proud of the way Michiganders pulled together to help neighbors and family members. The state was able to provide assistance and I'm asking the federal government for additional resources as the recovery efforts continue."

Based on information provided by the Michigan State Police Emergency Management Homeland Security Division, state leaders requested a joint preliminary damage assessment with federal and local leaders to review and validate the most severely damaged homes, businesses and public facilities. The teams conducted their assessments from August 26th to September 9th. State officials reviewed the assessments and determined the extent of the damage reached the level for applying for federal help. Snyder's request will be reviewed by FEMA who will then advise President Obama as to whether a disaster declaration should be granted.