ON THE JOB FOR MICHIGAN: Local Leaders Highlight Peters’ Work to Support Michigan Communities After 2020 Midland Flood

WASHINGTON, DC - In a new "On the Job" video from U.S. Senator Gary Peters' (MI) office, local leaders highlight Peters' efforts to help Michiganders recover in the wake of the catastrophic 2020 Midland flood. After the Edenville and Sanford dams failed in May 2020, many communities in the Great Lakes Bay Region faced widespread destruction of homes, businesses, and properties from the historic floodwaters. In response, Peters secured more than $30 million in federal funding to help these communities recover and rebuild. Peters also authored bipartisan legislation to improve the process of applying for federal disaster assistance to support communities like Sanford and others that were devastated by the flooding. The video is part of the On the Job for Michigan series, which highlights Peters' leadership and advocacy on behalf of Michigan constituents and communities.

"The senator's office was the most helpful in dealing with FEMA. It was extremely helpful to have the senator in our corner," said Bridgette Gransden, Midland County Administrator. "We're continuing to work with our state legislators, our federal legislators, to improve infrastructure in the community. I really think it's important to acknowledge what the senator has done as far as advocating for the Midland community, the Great Lakes Bay Region."

"We actually began some work in fall of 2020 to help very localized areas to recover and rebuild. If that entire process were streamlined, that would take a huge layer right off of the work that these people are doing, literally, with their sleeves rolled up and their mud boots on," said Diane Middleton, Vice President of Advocacy, Midland Business Alliance.

"I remember Senator Peters had been here during the flood. We decided to contact Senator Peters' office to see if he could help simplify the communications and help us get to the right person," said Dolores Porte, Village of Sanford President. "When you're in the middle of a disaster, a lot of paperwork to fill out. It's pretty daunting. If that simplification act had been in place, we wouldn't have had to fill out two different sets of paperwork with two different sets of people."

Porte continued, "Small towns are about seeing people face to face and about relationships. So, having your staff come here pretty regularly to check on things, sit down over ice cream in the ice cream store, and have Senator Peters come through on his [motorcycle] tour. It meant a lot to have people actually come here."

Watch the "On the Job" video here.

"The catastrophic flooding and destruction caused by those dam failures was absolutely devastating for the region, and it was worsened by the fact that we were in the middle of a pandemic," said Senator Peters, Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. "But one thing was clear then and remains true now: Michigan communities are tough and resilient. I was proud to stand alongside them during that difficult time, and I won't stop fighting to ensure all Michiganders have the resources they need to rebuild and emerge stronger in the face of disaster."

As Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Peters has led several efforts to help Michigan communities prepare for and recover from natural disasters. Peters' Disaster Assistance Simplification Act would establish a universal application across federal agencies for those seeking federal assistance to recover from natural disasters such as severe storms, floods, wildfires, and more. Currently, individuals must fill out separate and detailed applications depending on what agency they need help from, a process that can take weeks or even months. Peters' legislation, which passed the Senate, would significantly streamline this process to reduce the burden on disaster survivors.

In addition to leading the Disaster Assistance Simplification Act, Peters also authored legislation that was signed into law to merge the application deadlines for two key Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) programs that provide federal disaster assistance to individuals. Peters' Disaster Assistance Deadline Alignment Act helps prevent confusion for disaster survivors and aims to reduce the burden on people who need to rebuild their lives after disasters. He also authored bipartisan legislation that was signed into law to protect FEMA Reservists from losing their full-time employment when called upon to assist with disaster response.

Peters also passed into law the bipartisan Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation (STORM) Act, which helps states establish revolving loan funds for local governments to carry out mitigation projects that reduce natural disaster risk. Peters then secured $500 million for the program to help communities address the impacts of natural disasters. Michigan has been awarded $22.5 million in federal funding through the program to date.

Finally, in 2022, Peters' bill to help protect pets and other animals during and in the aftermath of natural disasters and emergencies was also signed into law.

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