WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Jack Bergman along with U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Elissa Slotkin sent a letter to Governor Gretchen Whitmer outlining their readiness to support any requests for federal aid or support that the state may request. Last week, a historic ice storm hit northern Lower Michigan and the eastern Upper Peninsula, resulting in more than 100,000 power outages and prompting Governor Whitmer to issue a State of Emergency in 12 counties.

As of Tuesday, there were still more than 35,000 people without power in Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.

“We write to offer our full support for recovery efforts following the unprecedented ice storm that recently impacted Northern Michigan and the eastern Upper Peninsula. We commend the dedication of first responders, utility crews, volunteers, and State and local officials who have been working tirelessly to restore power and ensure public safety during this difficult time.

“We understand that the State of Michigan and local governments are actively assessing the widespread damage caused by the storm, including downed power lines, hazardous road conditions, and prolonged power outages that have left many communities vulnerable.”

Disaster response typically follows a tiered approach. Initially, state and local angencies are responsible for mobilizing their resources to address the immediate needs of the affected areas. Michigan has state-level agencies such as emergency management systems and National Guard resources that are first in line to provide support to local communities – these have all been activated.

Once state resources are exhausted or deemed insufficient and an initial damage assessment is completed, the state can then formally request federal assistance which can include financial aid, personnel, and equipment.

This process ensures that federal resources are deployed efficiently and that the state takes the lead in addressing its own disasters first.

Bergman’s office said in a press release that in some cases, the state may not yet have reached the threshold for federal intervention, as they may still be able to manage the response with state and local resources.

The system in its current form allows the federal response to complement state efforts and provide the necessary aid when local and state resources are overwhelmed or unable to meet the task at hand.