PORTAGE, Mich. — After a request for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was denied for areas of West Michigan damaged by severe storms early this year, the city manager in Portage is frustrated for his community.
If you drive through the city two months after a tornado ripped through in early May, damage is still visible.
In response to the FEMA assistance denial, Portage City Manager Pat McGinnis told 13 ON YOUR SIDE, "we're a little distressed that they have determined this is not a major enough disaster to merit their attention at this point."
Joyce Lunsford operates the Pizza Hut inside a strip mall near West Centre Avenue and Oakland Drive that was destroyed by the tornado. She's happy employees working at the store were able to relocate to other locations, but is making no money at the store which is currently closed.
She added, "it was our most profitable."
McGinnis said Wednesday, "we do not think that local, state, county and non-profit funding is adequate otherwise we would not have asked," in reference to the assistance denial.
He said the city is dealing with almost $1,000,000 in damages and hauling debris is costing the most. 60 buildings are destroyed and hundreds are damaged.
The city estimates there are 10's, if not $100,000,000 in private property damage. McGinnis said homeowners are struggling to even receive repair quotes if they do not have insurance.
"The FEMA money would be more likely grants to help people," he explained.
The Small Business Administration (SBA) has been working with people directly in Portage.
McGinnis said, "the fact that some of these people aren't eligible for the SBA money is chilling and difficult for us to swallow, that makes this FEMA declaration all the more difficult to accept."
Lunsford said she's looking at a year to a year and a half before her business space is rebuilt.
McGinnis said while recovery may take longer due to lack of federal help, "we're going to continue to work with our property owners as long it takes to make sure everybody gets made whole."
The state is allocating $3,000,000 toward clean-up.
The City of Portage and State Senator Sean McCann of Kalamazoo are asking Governor Gretchen Whitmer to appeal the FEMA decision.
For information on resources available in Portage, click here.