Houghton County Emergency Management Seeks State Disaster Relief Funding, Working with Area Townships on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Grant for Flooding

Houghton County, like Baraga County, will seek funds from the state of Michigan to help repair damage to areas affected by this spring’s snow melt and flooding. This past spring’s thaw was a mix with a period of snow in between days of warm temperatures, causing Houghton County to declare a local state of emergency in April. The declaration was made alongside Marquette, Alger, and the other five western Upper Peninsula counties. Governor Whitmer also declared the flood damage as a state of emergency with the hope of gaining some disaster relief funding from the federal government. The region’s FEMA funding has been denied by the federal government. But Houghton County Emergency Manager, Chris Van Arsdel says that the county will look to appeal that decision. In the meantime, state funding looks to be the only option available right now for relief.

“And Kevin Harju is out, chasing down a couple of municipalities we think can apply. And get some money by filling out, really, one piece of paper.” – Chris Van Arsdel, Houghton County Emergency Manager

Van Arsdel’s department will also help townships and villages in the county annually affected by flooding work on paperwork for a project with the Army Corps of engineers.

“Working also with the Army Corps of Engineers on their Section 165 A, grant project. To try and establish kind of a large watershed management plan, and identify kind of the limits of that.” – Chris Van Arsdel, Houghton County Emergency Manager

Commission Chairman Tom Tikkanen encouraged Van Arsdel and leaders in the areas affected to work quickly, as he understand that the flooding in the area has caused a large amount of damage to homes and infrastructure around Torch Lake.