Senior Airman Austin Palmer prepares a KC-135T Stratotanker aircraft for a flight on Jan. 24, 2024. (Tom Demerly/U.S. Air Force)
(Tribune News Service) — Governor Gretchen Whitmer deployed the Michigan National Guard to assist ice storm recovery efforts in northern Michigan.
The Michigan National Guard deployed two teams with special equipment to help clear roadways and other areas that have been overcome by debris, according to a news release from the governor’s office.
“We are continuing our all-hands-on-deck approach to help families and communities impacted by the storms in Northern Michigan,” Whitmer said in a statement.
Power restoration is a top priority, and I’m grateful to our utility partners for positioning hundreds of utility workers to help get power back online as fast as possible. State and local emergency teams are on the ground, and the Michigan National Guard will join them to clear roads, keep people safe, and help first responders get to where they need to go. We will get through this together.”
Thousands of Michigan residents are still without power after an ice storm and deadly thunderstorms swept across the state last weekend.
“Our Soldiers and Airmen train to be ready to support communities across Michigan when facing natural disasters,” U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Paul D. Rogers said in a statement. “Our focus will be to assist state and local agencies as we clear roadways overcome by debris.”
A member of the Michigan National Guard operates a 92 Oshkosh snowplow to clear snow Jan. 25, 2022, at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan. (Terry L. Atwell/U.S. Air Force)
In addition to mobilizing the Michigan National Guard, Whitmer signed two executive orders to declare state of emergencies in Alcona and Atrium counties and lift commercial trucking restrictions.
The state of emergency now applies to Otsego, Montmorency, Presque Isle, Emmet, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Mackinac, Alpena, Alcona and Atrium counties.
The state of emergency authorizes Michigan State Police Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division to coordinate state efforts, according to the release.
Michigan State Police reported that a temporary fuel shortage is affecting Sault Ste. Marie. Regular fuel deliveries were interrupted due to the storm while the Mackinac Bridge was closed.
“Michigan State Police (MSP) personnel are working closely with local authorities and fuel providers to expedite deliveries and restore normal fuel services as quickly as possible,” said MSP Eighth District Public Information Officer, Lt. Ben Eckola.
The executive order to lift commercial trucking restrictions will allow a consistent flow of fuel and other necessary supplies, according to the release.
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