August 2026: Emergency Management Awareness Month

WHEREAS, Michigan continues to experience an increasing frequency and complexity of disasters requiring coordinated, multi-jurisdictional emergency management operations across local, state, tribal, and federal partners; and,

WHEREAS, between March 6 and May 18, 2026, the state faced a series of four major disaster events resulting in gubernatorial emergency declarations, underscoring the sustained operational demands placed on Michigan's emergency management system; and,

WHEREAS, these events included a March 6 tornado outbreak in three southwest Michigan counties that resulted in four fatalities and significant impacts to housing and local communities, as well as a statewide severe storm and flooding event from April 10-May 8 that affected 43 counties, involved large-scale evacuations, and included nine confirmed tornadoes causing widespread damage; and,

WHEREAS, during this 74-day period, the Michigan State Emergency Operations Center was activated for 56 days, reflecting the sustained coordination required to support local emergency managers, align interagency resources, and maintain situational awareness across multiple concurrent incidents; and,

WHEREAS, this level of sustained activation demonstrates the importance of a resilient and adaptive emergency management system capable of supporting continuous operations, rapid decision-making, and coordinated response across all levels of government; and,

WHEREAS, emergency management professionals across Michigan continue to strengthen preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery capabilities through planning, training, exercises, and real-world operations that improve statewide readiness; and,

WHEREAS, effective emergency management depends on integrated partnerships among public safety agencies, emergency management agencies, nonprofit organizations, private sector partners, and critical infrastructure stakeholders, working together to reduce risk and improve outcomes before, during, and after disasters; and,

WHEREAS, recognizing Emergency Management Awareness Month provides an opportunity to reinforce the importance of system-wide coordination, highlight the value of emergency management professionals, and promote continued investment in preparedness and resilience across the State of Michigan;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, Governor of the State of Michigan, do hereby proclaim August 2026 as Emergency Management Awareness Month in Michigan. I encourage all Michiganders, businesses, and community partners to engage with local emergency management resources, understand their risks, and stay informed through official alerting systems to strengthen preparedness and resilience across the state.