TL;DR: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on June 23, 2026 appealed FEMA's May 31 denial of Individual Assistance and Hazard Mitigation funds after four March 6 tornadoes killed four people in Branch, Cass and St. Joseph counties.

Appeal announced after federal denial

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Tuesday that she filed an appeal of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's decision to deny federal assistance for residents affected by the March tornadoes, according to CBS Detroit.

The appeal challenges a letter from FEMA officials dated May 31 that rejected funding through the Individual Assistance program, according to CBS Detroit.

That program was intended to support individuals and families with uninsured or underinsured losses, according to CBS Detroit.

FEMA also denied funding through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which supports long-term resilience through reduction of future risks, according to CBS Detroit.

Whitmer said she was disappointed in the denial decision and is filing an appeal for Individual Assistance aid, according to CBS Detroit.

"Families are still recovering from the devastation caused by the March tornadoes," Whitmer said Tuesday, according to CBS Detroit.

Whitmer added in a news release that the storms damaged critical infrastructure, destroyed homes, and claimed four lives, according to ClickOnDetroit (WDIV).

"While I'm disappointed that FEMA denied our request for Individual Assistance, our work is not over," Whitmer said in the release, according to ClickOnDetroit (WDIV).

"We will keep fighting to deliver the support our residents deserve, and help affected communities recover and rebuild," Whitmer said, according to ClickOnDetroit (WDIV).

"Michiganders are strong. We will get through this together," Whitmer said, according to ClickOnDetroit (WDIV).

What struck southwest Michigan on March 6

Four tornadoes struck southwest Michigan on March 6, with intensities ranging from EF-0 to EF-3, according to CBS Detroit.

Branch County, Cass County and St. Joseph County were among the hardest-hit areas, according to CBS Detroit.

The outbreak caused widespread destruction across Branch, Cass and St. Joseph counties, according to ClickOnDetroit (WDIV).

The tornadoes damaged numerous homes and businesses, overturned vehicles, sheared trees and caused significant power outages across the region, according to ClickOnDetroit (WDIV).

The hardest-hit communities were in southwest Michigan near Edwardsburg in Cass County, in and around the city of Three Rivers in St. Joseph County, and along the north side of Union Lake in Union City in Branch County, according to ClickOnDetroit (WDIV).

The March 6 tornadoes were the first of the 2026 season in Michigan, according to CBS Detroit.

There have now been 22 tornadoes confirmed this year in the state, according to CBS Detroit.

Michigan normally gets 15 to 17 tornadoes a year, with the record set in 1974 when 39 tornadoes were confirmed, according to CBS Detroit.

Four deaths in deadliest outbreak in nearly 50 years

Four people died in the March 6 storms, including a 12-year-old boy in Cass County and three adults in Branch County, according to CBS Detroit.

The four deaths represented Michigan's deadliest tornado outbreak in nearly 50 years, according to CBS Detroit.

ClickOnDetroit (WDIV) described the event as considered the deadliest outbreak in 50 years, with a 12-year-old from Cass County and three adults from Union City among those killed.

The 12-year-old was killed in Cass County, and the three adults died in Union City, according to additional local reporting summarized from the same June 23 announcements.

Officials identified Union City victims as Branch County adults and the Cass County victim as a child near Edwardsburg, consistent with county-level reports published June 23.

Damage review and federal request timeline

Whitmer's office said a damage assessment took place on March 17 to review and document where losses occurred and to what extent they resulted from the March 6 storms, according to CBS Detroit.

On April 1, Whitmer requested a major disaster declaration at the federal level that would allow additional assistance programs, according to CBS Detroit.

That April 1 request received bipartisan support from Michigan's representatives in Washington, D.C., according to CBS Detroit.

"Michigan's Branch, Cass, and St. Joseph counties have shown remarkable resilience, but these communities need the additional support that a federal disaster declaration provides," Sen. Gary Peters, a Democrat, said at the time, according to CBS Detroit.

"After spending multiple days on the ground with officials, I've seen that the devastation across our district from the recent tornadoes has been profound, and many of our neighbors are facing tremendous loss," Rep. Tim Walberg, a Republican, said, according to CBS Detroit.

Walberg added that the request step ensures communities can access resources needed to rebuild and have tools necessary to support long-term recovery, according to CBS Detroit.

Whitmer requested the presidential disaster declaration to help southwest Michigan communities recover from the deadly tornadoes on April 1, according to ClickOnDetroit (WDIV).

FEMA officials confirmed the denial of funding to aid with tornado loss on May 31, according to ClickOnDetroit (WDIV).

FEMA also denied funding through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, described as support for communities to reduce future disaster risks and strengthen long-term resilience, according to ClickOnDetroit (WDIV).

What Individual Assistance and mitigation funds would have covered

The Individual Assistance funding would have provided financial support and direct services to eligible individuals and households who sustained uninsured or underinsured losses, as described in June 23 coverage of the governor's announcement.

The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program denial removed a separate source aimed at long-term resilience through reduction of future risks, according to CBS Detroit.

The application under appeal is specifically for the March 6 tornadoes, according to CBS Detroit.

In a Tuesday statement, St. Joseph County Director of Emergency Services Josh Shook thanked Whitmer for advocating for the area, in reporting on the June 23 appeal.

"Any additional resources that become available would be beneficial to those who continue to recover from the tornadoes," Shook stated in that county response.

The county said it continues to work to recover from the storm and connect residents with as many resources as possible, including Small Business Administration disaster loans and support from nonprofits After The Storm and the St. Joseph County United Way, in reporting on the June 23 appeal.

Disaster loans still available before June 29

State officials said the U.S. Small Business Administration approved low-interest federal disaster loans for businesses, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners, and renters affected by those storms in Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Hillsdale, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, and Van Buren counties, according to CBS Detroit.

Low-interest federal disaster loans remain available from the U.S. Small Business Administration for businesses, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners, and renters impacted by the March 6 tornadoes in those same eight counties, according to ClickOnDetroit (WDIV).

Those eligible are encouraged to apply before the June 29 deadline, according to ClickOnDetroit (WDIV).

"We encourage those affected by the March tornadoes to take advantage of the recovery resources that are currently available while Governor Whitmer continues to seek additional federal assistance," said Col. James F. Grady II, director of the Michigan State Police and Michigan Emergency Management and Homeland Security, according to CBS Detroit.

Households in Berrien, Calhoun, Hillsdale, Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties are included in the loan eligibility even though the major-disaster request focused on Branch, Cass and St. Joseph counties, according to the eligibility list reported by CBS Detroit.

For households, that structure means renters as well as homeowners may seek loan assistance for qualifying storm-related losses within the listed counties, according to the program description reported by CBS Detroit.

For organizations, that structure means businesses and private nonprofit organizations may seek loan assistance within the listed counties, according to the program description reported by CBS Detroit.

How Michigan officials say to track recovery help

For more information on how to prepare before, during and after an emergency or disaster, state officials point residents to MIREADY, according to ClickOnDetroit (WDIV).

Residents can also follow MSP/EMHSD on X and Facebook for emergency information, according to ClickOnDetroit (WDIV).

MSP/EMHSD refers to the Michigan State Police/Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division led by Grady, according to the title reported by CBS Detroit.

St. Joseph County officials said residents can also seek connections through After The Storm and the St. Joseph County United Way alongside Small Business Administration disaster loans, in reporting on the June 23 appeal.

County emergency officials said work continues to connect residents with as many resources as possible during recovery from the March 6 storms, in reporting on the June 23 appeal.

Sources referenced