Bergman Announces Major Additional FEMA Help From President Trump Following the Historic Ice Storm of 2025

In addition to countless meetings, discussions, and advocacy on behalf of the affected counties, Rep. Bergman and his Republican colleagues in Michigan sent a letter to President Trump requesting that he overturn FEMA's denial of certain categories of federal assistance following the historic ice storm. The letter recognized the incredible recovery efforts already underway while emphasizing that the work is far from finished and that communities still face significant challenges ahead.

Bergman has repeatedly warned that without additional federal support, the remaining recovery costs would ultimately fall on individual households and families across Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula - those least able to shoulder the burden.

Following FEMA's amended declaration, Bergman thanked President Trump and partners across all levels of government for their work to secure this support.

"I'm grateful that President Trump corrected FEMA's initial decision to deny key categories in the disaster declaration and ensured Northern Michigan was not left hanging out to dry," Bergman said. "Through countless hours of work with my colleagues in Congress, Governor Whitmer, state legislators, and local leaders, we were able to deliver this critical support for the communities still recovering from this historic storm."

Background:

In the months following the devastating March 2025 ice storm, Rep. Bergman worked continuously with federal, state, and local partners to secure essential disaster assistance for the impacted communities of Northern Michigan.

Rep. Bergman first supported Governor Whitmer's May 16, 2025, request for a Major Disaster Declaration under the Stafford Act, emphasizing the widespread damage to homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure across thirteen counties and the need for federal support to supplement strained local resources.

As recovery efforts progressed, Rep. Bergman joined Senators Peters and Slotkin on June 9, 2025, in sending a letter to the Small Business Administration urging approval of the Governor's request for a Rapid Disaster Declaration so that small businesses across the region could access federal disaster loans and begin rebuilding.

On June 25, 2025, Rep. Bergman led the full Michigan congressional delegation in sending a letter to President Trump reinforcing the need for federal disaster assistance and pressing for approval of the Governor's request as communities continued to face substantial recovery costs.

When FEMA later denied certain categories of aid, on November 13, 2025, Rep. Bergman and the Michigan Republican delegation again appealed directly to the President to reconsider the decision and extend Public Assistance Category F and Individual Assistance to help households and electric cooperatives struggling with the financial burden of recovery.

Throughout this process, Rep. Bergman has remained in close communication with FEMA leadership to identify any available administrative or statutory flexibilities that could deliver additional financial relief to affected communities and not-for-profit utilities.