Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer gives a policy speech at an event, April 9, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

ALPENA — State and federal officials that represent Northeast Michigan appreciate President Donald Trump’s approval of $50 million in disaster relief funds for the 12 counties in northern Michigan that sustained heavy damage from a historic ice storm in late March.

The money, however, may not be enough, as there is still much work to be done and bills that are due.

Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social account late on Tuesday saying he had announced his decision to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer earlier the same day.

Whitmer announced the funding officially on Wednesday.

Whitmer said in a press release on Wednesday that she is pleased that the president committed the money he has, but she pledged to continue to push the federal government for more and do so until the work and cleanup is done.

“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. “With this initial support, we can help communities recover costs associated with cleanup efforts. I want to thank the president and our congressional delegation for supporting our request, and I look forward to collaborating further on much-needed additional resources. 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.”

In a press release Wednesday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said additional disaster designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

After Trump announced the funding on Truth Social, there was some confusion on how the money would be distributed and who would be eligible to apply for funds. On Wednesday, more details about the funding and its purpose began to come into focus.

According to U.S.Congressman Jack Bergman’s communication director James Hogge, there is no financial cap set on the funding, which could leave the door open for additional emergency money if needed. He added that the funding, as approved now, does not permit utility companies to utilize it to help offset the repair and replacement costs they absorbed when some of their entire infrastructure was wiped out.

However, Hogge said that could change down the road.

It appears local governments may qualify for some financial relief with the funds, as many of the local municipalities incurred great costs responding to the weather emergency and the cleanup afterward.

Bergman said he is appreciative of Trump’s decision to support northern Michigan and the hard work of everyone involved to get the funding approved because the money will help it bounce back from the historic storm that caused many people to live without power for several weeks.

“President Trump’s approval of a Major Disaster Declaration for the counties impacted by March’s devastating ice storm is welcome news. I’m grateful to his administration for working to get this done,” Bergman said. “This long-awaited decision unlocks critical resources to help our communities recover and rebuild as quickly as possible. It’s been a true team effort — from local agencies to state and federal partners. Northern Michigan is no stranger to tough times — but it’s in moments like these, when our communities rally and move forward together, that the true spirit of Northern Michigan shines brightest.”

State Senator for northern Michigan Michele Hoitenga said there are still some loose ends to tie up in terms of learning more about how the funding can be used and how it will be distributed. She said she knows that the state and county emergency services offices will distribute grant funding after an application process from people seeking financial relief from the storm. Hoitenga said when the facts and procedures are clear, she will make sure they are released to the public.

“First off, this was a huge collaborative effort to get this done, from local government, to state government, to our federal officials,” she said. “But, right now everyone is sort of wondering what comes next. We want to make sure that the money is used to help the people who need it the most.”

Hoitenga said she hopes a portion of the money can be used to shore up infrastructure and planning to help make the next emergency a little easier to navigate.

“We need to invest in things that will save us from some of the headaches we had from the ice storm,” Hoitenga said. “I think it is important for us to be proactive for future emergencies.”

U.S. Senator Gary Peters said the funding is badly needed in northern Michigan, because although the region has bounced back since the storm, for many, things are not yet back to normal.

“I’m pleased that funding is coming to northern Michigan to bolster the ongoing recovery efforts following the ice storm this March,” Peters said in an email. “The State of Michigan and local emergency managers continue to work hard because this job is not finished, and I’ll keep fighting to help our communities get the resources they need to bounce back stronger.”

State Rep. Cam Cavitt said he appreciates the $50 million the president has committed thus far, but said the goal needs to be to get more money allocated. He said local governments, utility companies, businesses, and residents are still struggling financially because of the impact the ice storm had on finances.

“Thank you, President Trump, for acknowledging our situation and this is a good first step, because right now, our needs are greater than this amount,” Cavitt said.

The declaration opens the path to FEMA public assistance in Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Kalkaska, Mackinac, Montmorency, Oscoda, Otsego, and Presque Isle counties and the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 or sschulwitz@TheAlpenaNews.com. Follow him on X @ss_alpenanews.com.