Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency in ten Northern Michigan counties affected by a severe ice storm over the weekend.
The declaration will “get help out the door as fast as possible for Michiganders impacted by the ice storm” in Otsego, Oscoda, Montmorency, Presque Isle, Emmet, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Mackinac, and Alpena counties, she said on Facebook.
The State Emergency Operations Center was activated on Sunday to help coordinate the storm response, according to Whitmer. State and local emergency teams are on the ground, working to clear roads and restore power.
“We’re going to keep working closely with local first responders and emergency teams to make sure folks get the support they need,” according to Whitmer. “I’d like to thank everyone who works tirelessly to keep people safe. We will get through this together. As we always do.
Sleet, heavy and prolonged freezing rain, and a line of severe storms hit the area from Friday night to Sunday afternoon.
There were numerous reports of ice-covered trees and large branches falling across roads, sagging onto power lines, and rendering some routes impassable. Power lines snapped, power poles fell, and power outages reached 90,000 homes and businesses at their peak. A shelter-in-place order was issued in some areas.
Today’s cold snap will not aid in cleanup efforts. Because there are so many hazards, authorities believe that keeping people off the roads and at home – if they can – is the safest option.
