WEYI/WSMH: Legislators demand relief for Midland County flood victims

MIDLAND COUNTY, Mich. - It has been more than 5 years since the historic flooding caused by dam breaks ravaged Midland County.

Many are still seeking answers on the status of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) relief funds.

Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08) and Congressman John Moolenaar (MI-02) have now sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security in hopes of getting some of those answers for residents that were impacted.

According to the legislator's offices, the flooding in 2020 forced more than 10,000 residents to evacuate and caused nearly $200 million in damages to homes, businesses, and infrastructure.

President Trump approved Governor Whitmer’s federal emergency declaration in the summer of 2020, but residents are still waiting for FEMA to complete its reimbursement process over five years later.

Congresswoman McDonald Rivet and Congressman Moolenaar’s letter reads, in part, “We share the concern that FEMA's cumbersome processes have created barriers for communities seeking relief and need reform. We also share in the mission to streamline and improve the efficiency of the disaster assistance process to ensure other communities around the nation are not subject to the years-long delays that our region has experienced. That said, our community continues to be burdened by these systemic FEMA challenges, and while we remain grateful for the assistance from the dedicated FEMA personnel thus far, we are requesting FEMA work with our community to ensure the outstanding disaster-related claim requests for [Midland County, the Village of Sanford, and Midland Center for the Arts] promptly be reviewed and resolved”