|
Earlier today, I joined a call with the governor’s team, the Michigan State Police and other legislators to discuss the ongoing disaster response.
There is still much more to do to get resources to the public, but efforts are underway on a large scale.
The National Guard has deployed two large fuel pods to support essential services, warming centers and first responders. The first is a 70,000-gallon pod located in Cheboygan, and the second is in Gaylord — these will help keep restoration efforts going at full speed.
The National Guard is also sending dozens of tree-clearing crews, and the Michigan Department of Transportation and the Department of Natural Resources are clearing roads around power lines to give linemen better access to damaged infrastructure.
The American Red Cross and many local food banks are supplying warming centers across the region with food and water for those who need it.
Oxygen tanks are being brought into various areas, including Alpena, Atlanta and Indian River, to support those who need that essential service.
There are some concerns with incoming weather that flooding could be an issue. If you notice any signs of flooding, please report those areas to your local county government so they can be relayed to the emergency managers and the state police.
I also spoke with a first responder who asked me to relay a message regarding generator maintenance. Generators are not typically supposed to run for days on end, and it is important to check the oil levels every 24 hours. Please check your manufacturer guides to learn how to do this for your specific model.
We are still gathering information to best advise the public on where to go as more resources become available, but for now, the warming centers are the best place to get assistance.
I will continue to post updates as I learn more.
|
