WAYNE, OAKLAND, AND MACOMB COUNTIES, Mich. — Governor Rick Snyder has issued a disaster declaration for three counties in Southeast Michigan following rain on August 11 that caused severe flooding, impacting thousands of homes in Metro Detroit.
According to the Detroit Free Press, on Tuesday, Governor Snyder interrupted a four-day visit to the Upper Peninsula to survey the damage. The declaration will most likely set the stage for the state to determine damage and whether or not it is able to cover the costs. If the state cannot pay for the losses on its own, Governor Snyder would then ask FEMA to assess the damage, and the state could eventually ask the president to declare a disaster.
The Michigan Department of Transportation has worked around the clock to clear mud and pump out standing water and expects to reopen most major freeways on August 14. However, it could still be weeks or months before things go back to normal on many of the area’s freeways.
