(LANSING) - Governor Gretchen Whitmer has requested President Donald Trump declare a major disaster following the March 6 tornadoes.
Whitmer says the tornadoes brought heartbreaking loss and widespread destruction to Southwest Michigan. She says families have lost loved ones, homes and businesses.
Whitmer declared a state of emergency, but she says the work is just beginning. She says she is requesting federal assistance to ensure those affected have the resources they need to recover.
The four tornadoes ranged in intensity from EF-0 to EF-3. One touched down near Edwardsburg, one in and around Three Rivers and then on the north side of Union Lake in Union City. The fourth tornado struck in Calhoun County.
A 12 year old boy was killed in the Cass County tornado while three adults in Union City lost their lives.
Whitmer has requested activation of all areas of the Individual Assistance (IA) program for the counties of St. Joseph, Branch and Cass.
A joint Preliminary Damage Assessment with local, state, and federal officials was conducted on March 17 to assess and validate the most severely affected areas. Based on the findings, state officials determined the damage met the threshold to request federal assistance.
If granted, IA may include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-interest loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and businesses recover.
Whitmer's request will be reviewed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which will advise President Trump on whether a disaster declaration is warranted.