State Rep. Parker Fairbairn is spearheading an effort to secure $300 million for ice storm recovery efforts in Northern Michigan. If approved, the plan would send $75 million in state relief to secure an additional $225 million in federal dollars for communities most severely impacted by the storms.

Fairbairn on Wednesday introduced a $75 million state budget plan, House Bill 4328, that would work in tandem with any future federal disaster declaration for Northern Michigan. Federal disaster relief dollars would require a 25% match from the state – covered by Fairbairn’s $75 million proposal – resulting in $300 million in total recovery funds for Northern Michigan.

“Our Northern Michigan communities are doing everything they can to address historic damages, but funding is running short, and they need help,” said Fairbairn, R-Harbor Springs. “Folks up north pride themselves in having a strong work ethic. We get to work early and do what needs to be done to put food on the table. But after a once-in-a-generation storm, we need a lot more than calloused hands and work boots to get things back to normal. We’re talking about Michiganders who have dutifully paid their taxes for generations; the least the state can do is return some of those dollars in our hour of need.”

The Michigan State Police recently estimated that recovery efforts will cost upwards of $200 million. Fairbairn said that number is likely to rise considering the devastating amount of damage in Northern Michigan. For that reason, and with the 25% match requirement to receive federal relief funds in mind, his state relief plan is for $75 million, assuming the recovery efforts will require around $300 million in additional support.

“As recovery efforts are still ongoing, it’s unclear just how financially devastating this storm was for our Northern Michigan communities,” Fairbairn said. “There are several debris drop-off locations that have been forced to close because they’ve filled up, and the local officials have run out of money to get rid of the debris themselves. That’s the situation we’re facing. Every single dollar at our disposal is going to support recovery efforts, but it’s becoming alarmingly clear that we’re going to need a lot of dollars if we ever hope to get this mess cleaned up.”

Fairbairn’s proposal comes after Northern Michigan communities were slammed by a days-long ice storm in late March. More than 100,000 homes and businesses lost power – many for more than a week. Fallen trees and damaged power lines left many roads impassable and many more residents questioning how they would afford to clean up their own properties.

The funding would support disaster relief grants, which will aid local communities in emergency management assistance, continued operation of warming centers and purchase of emergency supplies, cleanup and recovery efforts, unemployment benefits and temporary employment opportunities for displaced workers, energy assistance, and repair or replacement of damaged public infrastructure.

Any unexpended relief funds must be used to address damage on land owned by the state or Department of Natural Resources or to reimburse third-party providers that assisted in recovery efforts.

Fairbairn’s plan was approved by the House Appropriations Committee Wednesday afternoon.

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