Representative leads bipartisan push for additional federal assistance

Rep. Annette Glenn, R-Midland, Monday sent a letter to President Donald Trump seeking additional federal assistance to help communities in Mid-Michigan recover from devastating flooding caused by two dam failures. The letter was signed by six Republicans and one Democrat, including Senate Appropriations Chair Jim Stamas and House Speaker Pro Tempore Jason Wentworth.

Glenn, who led the bipartisan effort, said the letter asks the president to declare a major disaster, which would make additional resources available beyond what was provided through his initial emergency declaration on May 21.

“Moving forward, our communities certainly need further assistance,” the letter reads. “As you know, we had multiple dam failures resulting in devastating flooding. Not only are our communities faced with two lakes that are now nearly drained and millions of dollars in dam repairs, but we also had roads and bridges completely wiped away, homes that floated off their foundations, a village’s entire business district in ruins, and more. The destruction caused by this flooding is unimaginable.”

Glenn said the 500-year flooding event has devastated families, many of whom did not purchase flood insurance because they were told they were not in a flood zone and could never have imagined they would be impacted by flooding of this magnitude. She is also leading the fight to ensure small businesses can rebuild and local roads and bridges are repaired.

“Many of our families, friends and neighbors were already struggling due to the coronavirus pandemic. Now they’ve been dealt an additional blow from flooding, and they’re facing the significant financial burden of repairing or completely rebuilding their homes,” Glenn said. “Small job providers employ many of the same people who lost their homes. We must do all we can to make sure they do not lose their jobs as well.”

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