OTTAWA COUNTY, Mich. – The Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Management, along with FEMA and the Michigan State Police, are hitting the streets on May 9 to survey property damage from the intense flooding.
“It would be helpful for those with significant damage to have information readily available”, said Emergency Management Director Beth Thomas. Assessment teams will be asking residents about the extent of the damage, the location of the flooding, depth, and if the damage is covered by insurance.
If residents are not available to talk on may 9, they are encouraged to provide information to a neighbor or leave a note on their door about the damage.
The assessment process is crucial in assisting state officials in determining whether a federal declaration should be requested. After Governor Snyder declared Ottawa County as a disaster area, residents are wondering what that means for them. The declaration will therefore ensure that all possible resources, in accordance to the Michigan Emergency Management Plan, are provided to assist those affected by the flooding. However, no decision has been made yet on financial assistance.
Residents are also encouraged to take photos of the damage, log activities, keep receipts documenting costs of flood damage expenses, and log onto miOttawa.org and click on the Governor’s Declaration of Disaster on the top of the page to report damages.
