LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer asked President Joe Biden on Wednesday to declare a major disaster in Otsego County, where an EF-3 tornado struck Gaylord on May 20.
The storm with 140 mph (225.31 kilometers per hour) winds killed two people and injured 44 others, officials have said. It destroyed homes and businesses, causing millions of dollars in property damage.
“We are doing everything in our power to secure all available assistance for the people of Gaylord as quickly as possible,” Whitmer said in a news release.
The town of 4,200 is about 230 miles (370 kilometers) northwest of Detroit.
A disaster declaration would makes a wide range of federal assistance available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Whitmer said she has requested supplementary federal aid in the form of individual assistance to help eligible residents. If federal aid is granted, assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help people and businesses recover from the effects of the tornado.
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1of10Resident Stephanie Kerwin, center, holds her baby Octavius in one arm and dog Pixie in the other as she and her family carry what they could salvage from her home in Nottingham Forest Mobile Home Park, Saturday, May 21, 2022, in Gaylord, Mich., following a tornado the day before. “This morning is when it first hit me…I could have lost people that I really love. I am so grateful,” Kerwin said. (Jake May/MLive.com/The Flint Journal via AP)Jake May/APShow MoreShow Less2of10Theresa Haske sorts through debris from what was her garage after a tornado tore through Gaylord, Mich., Friday, May 20, 2022.John RussellShow MoreShow Less3of10Jack Elliott inspects his 2017 Dodge Friday, May 20, 2022 in Gaylord, Mich., after a red pine crushed the vehicle during a tornado. A rare northern Michigan tornado tore through a small community on Friday, killing at least one person and injuring at least 23 others as it flipped vehicles, tore roofs from buildings and downed trees and power lines.John Russell/APShow MoreShow Less4of10Damage is seen at the home of Betty Wisniewski after a tornado came through the area in Gaylord, Mich., Friday, May 20, 2022. Wisniewski’s son said she escaped unharmed.John Flesher/APShow MoreShow Less5of10Damage is seen at a home after a tornado came through the area in Gaylord, Mich., Friday, May 20, 2022.John Flesher/APShow MoreShow Less6of10A telephone pole and power lines are seen downed after a tornado came through the area in Gaylord, Mich., Friday, May 20, 2022.John Flesher/APShow MoreShow Less7of10In this photo provided by Angela Russ, severe weather damage is seen in Gaylord, Mich., just off the city’s 75 southbound 282 exit, Friday, May 20, 2022. (Angela Russ via AP)Show MoreShow Less8of10This image provided by Steven Bischer, shows an upended vehicle following an apparent tornado, Friday, May 20, 2022, in Gaylord, Mich. (Steven Bischer via AP)Show MoreShow Less9of10This image provided by Steven Bischer, shows damage following an apparent tornado, Friday, May 20, 2022, in Gaylord, Mich. (Steven Bischer via AP)Steven Bischer/APShow MoreShow Less10of10Jack Elliott stands beside his van that was struck by a tree during a tornado in Gaylord, Mich., Friday, May 20, 2022. Elliott was inside his house during the storm and was uninjured.John Flesher/APShow MoreShow Less
“Without significant assistance from the federal government, residents will suffer financial hardships for years as they attempt to repair and restore their damaged homes to pre-disaster condition, repair or replace mechanical and electrical systems, and replace personal belongings,” Whitmer said in her letter to Biden.
