Overview
- A March 6, 2026 tornado outbreak that included an EF-3 in Union City killed four people and damaged homes, businesses, vehicles and power infrastructure across Branch, Cass and St. Joseph counties.
- Governor Gretchen Whitmer requested a presidential disaster declaration on April 1 to unlock federal programs that would provide direct help to affected households.
- FEMA formally denied Individual Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding in a May 31 decision that left communities without federal household relief or FEMA-backed mitigation grants.
- On Tuesday, June 23, Whitmer’s office filed a formal appeal of FEMA’s denial and urged residents to apply for low-interest SBA disaster loans before the June 29 deadline.
- The denial of HMGP funding removes a key source for projects to reduce future risk, increasing reliance on loans and state resources and potentially slowing long-term rebuilding and resilience work.