Great Lakes Wire

Northern Michigan lawmakers are divided over the speed at which financial relief should be delivered to communities impacted by ice storms in March. The debate centers on a $100 million aid bill, which passed the House overwhelmingly but has stalled in the Senate.

Sen. Michele Hoitenga (R-Manton) expressed frustration with the delay: “I’m unsure why the storm relief bill is stuck in the Senate. If there are issues with it, they should be sorted out in the committee process, but we can’t even get a hearing scheduled. The data for the FEMA request has already been gathered and approved, but it doesn’t cover individuals,” she said. “The people I serve need action now, and politics shouldn’t interfere with the urgent help they need.”

The ice storm caused significant damage across Northern Michigan, leaving more than an inch of ice in some areas and causing widespread disruption to trees, power lines, and infrastructure. By early May, nearly 700 miles of state forest roads remained impassable due to debris, according to reports from Michigan Public Radio.

On May 7, state legislators passed a measure allocating $100 million from Michigan’s General Fund for recovery efforts.

Sen. John Damoose (R-Harbor Springs) acknowledged concerns about timing but pointed to procedural requirements: “I would have loved to have a check written on ‘day one when the ice was still melting.’ However...there is a procedure you have to go through,” he told MIRS News. “I think the process is working as it’s supposed to work. I expect that we’re going to get some movement out of this in the next couple of weeks,” Damoose added. “I haven’t seen anybody pushing back on wanting to help. It’s just the process can take long and take a while, and it’s going to take a little longer this year in fact.”

Federal support was authorized by President Donald Trump on July 23 through FEMA for state and local governments affected by the disaster; however, individual assistance—such as funding for temporary housing or home repairs—was not approved.

Damoose described this as part of a complex relationship between state and federal agencies: “It’s actually good to wait, because that tweaks the type of funding we should seek right now. I’m pushing so hard on individual assistance because it doesn’t look like we’re going to get any of that from the federal government,” he said. “Everything that’s coming from the federal government looks like it’s more going to be filtered through counties and local units of government...which is a different deal than actually helping those homeowners and property owners who’ve had to pay through the teeth to clean up.”

Rep. Parker Fairbairn (R-Harbor Springs), whose HB 4328 proposes specific relief measures for affected residents, echoed calls for urgency: “When a natural disaster happens, response time really matters,” Fairbairn said Friday after sharing Hoitenga's concerns online. He criticized Senate leadership for not bringing his bill before committee despite having time for amendments or testimony from emergency managers: “They’ve had every opportunity...they haven’t even brought it up.” He added: “We’re sitting on our hands right now, and I think we’ve got ability to help people right now.”

In past emergencies such as Midland County flooding in 2020—when dam failures led Governor Whitmer's administration to allocate $6 million—the legislative response was faster and smaller-scale compared with today’s proposed $100 million package.

Some senators may be waiting for more information about ongoing needs or hoping federal decisions might change regarding individual assistance eligibility before committing such funds—a significant sum given other budget pressures like rising SNAP benefits or Medicaid administrative costs.

For additional updates visit SBAM News & Resources.