Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced a week ago that 17 counties around the state are receiving nearly $11 million in disaster funding to help communities rebuild after three separate incidents caused emergency declarations over the past 18 months.

Of those 17 counties, eight are in the Upper Peninsula.

In April 2023, Whitmer declared a state of emergency in Alger, Baraga, Dickinson, Iron, Houghton, Gogebic, Marquette and Ontonagon counties. Rapid snowmelt due to warming temperatures and record precipitation led to floodwaters that damaged roads, bridges, utilities, homes, businesses and other infrastructure.

The flooding overwhelmed stormwater and sewer systems, burst dams, caused culverts and embankments to fail and damaged other public infrastructure such as drinking water systems. Roadways and bridges suffered the most severe damage, with many left impassable.

In response to these events, six of those U.P. counties will be receiving $5,127,901 in aid.

Often it seems as if the U.P. gets forgotten by the policticians in Lansing, so this relief will come as a boon to these communities.

“I could not be more pleased with the administrative team here for getting this done,” said Joe Derocha, chairman of the Marquette County Board of Commissioners. “I take my hat off to the county administrative team and Brian Hummel for their great work. I also thank the governor for putting some money in the local unit.”

We applaud Gov. Whitmer and the local officials who worked hard to secure this funding for our local communities.

— The Mining Journal, Marquette