State of emergency declared following storms

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has declared a state of emergency for Branch, Hillsdale and St. Joseph counties related to severe thunderstorms and straight-line winds Aug. 11 and 12.

This is the second step for county entities to try obtaining state aid for reimbursement toward cleanup-related costs.

All three counties had requested a governor’s declaration.

By declaring a state of emergency, Whitmer has made available all state resources in cooperation with local response and recovery efforts in three county-designated areas.

The declaration authorizes Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division to coordinate state efforts above and beyond what authorities have already been doing in conjunction with local agencies to support manpower, overtime, equipment and other costs to help recover from the storms that left widespread damage over the three counties.