• ELECTED OFFICIAL’S GUIDE TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT •
ELECTED OFFICIAL’S GUIDE TO
EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT
Revised Feb. 2020
ABOUT
EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT
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• ELECTED OFFICIAL’S GUIDE TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT •
E
mergency management is both a discipline and a process to prevent, prepare for, respond to, recover from
and migate the impacts of naturally occurring and human-made emergencies and disasters.
Emergency Management (EM) is based on the concept that local emergency or disaster management is
supported by state and federal governments when necessary. Emergency management begins at the local level.
When a disaster or emergency occurs, the local jurisdicons may declare a “local state of emergency” to acvate
their response and recovery plans. This acon also informs the Michigan State Police, Emergency Management
and Homeland Security Division (MSP/EMSHD) an emergency or disaster is occurring in a local jurisdicon. If a
local jurisdicon exhausts its resources when responding to the emergency or disaster, its chief elected ocial
may request the governor declare a “state of emergency” or “state of disaster”. If the incident is catastrophic,
under the Emergency Powers of the Governor Act (Public Act 302 of 1945, as amended), the governor may
declare a “state of emergency” without a request from a local jurisdicon. Once the governor declares a “state
of emergency” or “state of disaster,” the MSP/EMHSD will coordinate state resources to support the local
response eorts. Should the state exhaust its resources when responding to an emergency or disaster, the
governor may request the president declare an “emergency” or a “disaster”.
The MSP/EMHSD works closely with local and federal partners to train, educate and coordinate all components
of emergency management to ensure the safety and well-being of Michigan’s residents when an emergency
or disaster strikes. The Michigan Emergency Management Act (1976 PA 390, as amended) provides the MSP/
EMHSD with the authority to coordinate these acvies.
Michigan Emergency Management Act: A state public act to provide for planning, migaon, response and
recovery from natural and human-made disaster within and outside the state of Michigan.
Robert T. Staord Act: A federal act that constutes the authority for most federal disaster response acvies.
The Michigan Emergency Management Act and the Staord Act can be found at www.michigan.gov/emhsd.
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The Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security (MSP/EMSHD) is responsible
for developing, implemenng, and maintaining a system to protect Michigan’s communies, residents
and visitors from the eects of disasters and emergencies through appropriate prevenon, migaon,
preparedness, response and recovery acons.
The MSP/EMHSD promotes an all-hazards approach to emergency management through training and
educaon, public awareness and preparedness, hazard migaon and incident prevenon, emergency
planning and response and recovery programs.
The informaon above is outlined in more detail in the Michigan Emergency Management Plan at
www.michigan.gov/emhsd.
MICHIGAN STATE POLICE
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT & HOMELAND SECURITY DIVISION
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• ELECTED OFFICIAL’S GUIDE TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT •
The State Emergency Operaons Center (SEOC) coordinates all state agency acvies and resources during an emergency
or disaster. During acvaon of the SEOC, personnel monitor ongoing incidents, communicate with aected jurisdicons
and government agencies, as well as assess and coordinate any requests for state and federal resources or assistance. The
SEOC is typically staed by state agency personnel, nonprot organizaons and members of the private sector aected by
the incident. The governor is kept informed of state response and recovery acvies from the SEOC. The SEOC is overseen
and maintained by the MSP/EMHSD.
Located in Dimondale, the SEOC is a permanent facility with the necessary equipment, materials and security needed to
acvate immediately in response to an incident, and to remain operaonal 24-hours per day, as needed.
• GOVERNOR
The governor is responsible for direcng the state’s response and recovery eorts to protect public health and safety during an
emergency. The governor can choose to acvate the SEOC to coordinate the state’s response and recovery eorts.
• STATE DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND HOMELAND SECURITY
The director of the MSP serves as the state director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security. The director of the MSP is
responsible for implemenng the orders and direcves of the governor in the event of a disaster or emergency.
• MSP/EMHSD
The MSP/EMHSD is responsible for maintaining, acvang and operang the SEOC. The commander of the MSP/EMHSD serves as the
deputy state director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
• STATE AGENCIES
During an emergency or disaster, the SEOC is staed by personnel represenng each state agency involved in protecng public health
and safety, as well as responding to and recovering from the incident.
SEOC RESPONSIBILITIES
ABOUT THE SEOC
STATE EMERGENCY
OPERATIONS CENTER
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FIVE PHASES
OF EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT
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• ELECTED OFFICIAL’S GUIDE TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT •
Taking measures to limit the damaging eects that occur as a
result of an emergency or disaster.
MITIGATION
Deter or stop an incident from occurring to protect Michigan lives
and property.
PREVENTION
Promong acvies prior to an incident that increase a
community’s ability to respond if an emergency or disaster occurs.
PREPAREDNESS
Planning and acons taken to develop procedures and mechanisms to help a
community return to normal condions by aiding and repairing physical, social
and economic damages.
RECOVERY
Acons that eciently coordinate resources to save lives and
reduce economic losses during an emergency or disaster.
RESPONSE
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4
5
6
RESPONSE & RECOVERY CYCLE
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DISASTER OCCURS
Local
Respond to life, health, and
safety needs
Conduct DA
Declare local state of
warrants
State
Provide assistance as
requested by local
LOCAL DECLARATION
Local
Deploy Resources
Prepare request for state
needed
State/EMHSD
Review & respond to
requests for assistance
requested
GOVERNOR’S
DECLARATION
Local
Respond to state with
State
Review DA info
Provide resources
Request Joint PDA from
exceed state resources
IS ADDITIONAL
ASSISTANCE
CRITICAL?
ONGOING PARTICIPATION OF COMMUNITY, PRI
IF YES
LEGEND
DA = Damage Assessment
PDA = Preliminary Damage Assessment
NGO = Non-governmental Organizations
VOAD = Volunteers Active in Disaster
• ELECTED OFFICIAL’S GUIDE TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT •
RESPONSE & RECOVERY CYCLE
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JOINT PDA
Local
and unmet needs
State
Conduct Joint PDA with
locals and FEMA
If PDA results warrant,
prepare state request for
federal assistance
FEMA
Complete PDA
Provide results to state and
locals
GOVERNOR REQUESTS
PRESIDENTIAL DECLARATION
Local
awareness
State
provide resources
FEMA
Analyze state’s request
President
FEDERAL DECISION
President approves or
denies, or approves with
OMMUNITY, PRIVATE SECTOR, NGOS, AND VOADS
IS ADDITIONAL
ASSISTANCE
CRITICAL?
IF YES
EMERGENCY
DECLARATIONS
& AVAILABLE
ASSISTANCE
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• ELECTED OFFICIAL’S GUIDE TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT •
LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY
“(j) Local state of emergency means a proclamaon or declaraon that acvates the response and recovery
aspects of any and all applicable local or interjurisdiconal emergency operaons plans and authorizes the
furnishing of aid, assistance, and direcves under those plans.”
Declared by: local chief elected ocial
STATE OF EMERGENCY or DISASTER
“(p) State of disaster means an execuve order or proclamaon that acvates the disaster response and
recovery aspects of the state, local, and interjurisdiconal emergency operaons plans applicable to the
counes or municipalies aected.”
“(q) State of emergency means an execuve order or proclamaon that acvates the emergency response
and recovery aspects of the state, local, and interjurisdiconal emergency operaons plans applicable to the
counes or municipalies aected.”
Declared by: Governor
Can assist by: Providing experse, resources, and technical assistance of all state agencies to protect public
health and safety. Following a state emergency or disaster declaraon, the governor may authorize nancial
reimbursement to municipalies for some disaster related response and recovery costs from the Disaster
and Emergency Conngency Fund (Secon 19 of Public Act 390 of 1976 as amended).
PRESIDENTIAL DECLARATION OF MAJOR DISASTER
Declared by the president under the provisions of Staord Act for any natural event, including any hurri-
cane, tornado, storm, high water, wind-driven water, dal wave, tsunami, earthquake, volcanic erupon,
landslide, mudslide, snowstorm, or drought, or, regardless of cause, re, ood, or explosion, that the Presi-
dent determines has caused damage of such severity that it is beyond the combined capabilies of state and
local governments to respond. Must be requested by the governor. (The Robert T. Staord Disaster Relief
and Emergency Assistance Act)
Can assist by: Providing federal personnel, resources, technical assistance, and federal nancial assistance
through a wide range of federal assistance programs for individuals and public infrastructure, including
funds for both emergency and permanent work.
Several forms of emergency declaraons exist that can be
instuted by various local, state and federal agencies. Declaraons
are generally based on locaon, incident severity, property and
populaon aected. (Public Act 390 of 1976 as amended)
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Public Assistance (PA) Grant Program: Federal nancial assistance to local, state and tribal governments,
and certain types of private nonprot organizaons for:
Individual Assistance (IA): Federal nancial assistance to individuals and households, which may include:
Federal nancial assistance to local, state and tribal
governments, and certain types of private nonprot organizaons for implemenng projects to prevent or
reduce long term risk to life and property from future natural hazard events. Examples of hazard migaon
acvies:
Debris removal (Category A) – expenses related to clearance, removal and disposal of incident related
debris.
expenses related to acvies like ood ghng,
search and rescue, reghng, scene security, operang an emergency operaons center.
Roads and bridges (Category C) – repair damages to pre-disaster condion.
repair damages to pre-disaster condion.
Buildings and equipment (Category E) – repair damages to pre-disaster condion.
repair damages to pre-disaster condion.
repair damages to pre-disaster condion.
nancial assistance and direct services to eligible
applicants who have uninsured or underinsured necessary expenses and serious needs
Housing Assistance – nancial assistance for repairs and replacement of housing
applies to disaster-caused expenses and serious
needs like transportaon repairs or losses, childcare costs, funeral expenses, medical
and dental needs, and moving and storage
Mass Care and Emergency Assistance – coordinaon and support for the provision and/or direct
delivery of life-sustaining services to survivors
Disaster Case Management (DCM) – enhances exisng case management capabilies to develop and
carry out individual disaster recovery plans with survivors
Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program – grant or cooperave agreement to provide crisis
counseling services or contract with mental health service providers to prevent or migate disaster-
caused psychological eects in survivors
Disaster Legal Services – free legal help to low-income survivors
Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) – provides temporary benets and re-employment services
to survivors whose employment has been lost or interrupted as a direct result of a disaster and are
ineligible for regular unemployment insurance
technical assistance, coordinaon, and experse to volunteer
partners who are addressing gaps in resources, providing nancial support, and other support to
survivors aer government assistance is exhausted
Voluntary acquision or elevaon of ood-prone residenal and non-residenal structures
Stormwater management projects that reduce ood risk
Protecve measures for ulity infrastructure
Vegetaon management for dune restoraon or wildre prevenon
Construcon of safe rooms
Development of a community all-hazards migaon plan
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• ELECTED OFFICIAL’S GUIDE TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT •
PRESIDENTIAL DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY
Declared by the president under the provisions of Staord Act for any occasion or instance when
the President determines federal assistance is needed to supplement State and local or Indian tribal
government eorts in providing emergency services, such as the protecon of lives, property, public health,
and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe.
Declared by: President
Can assist by: Providing federal personnel, resources, technical assistance, and federal nancial assistance.
The inial limit of federal nancial assistance is $5 million.
Public Assistance (PA) Grant Program (categories A and B only)
Individual Assistance (Individuals and Households program only)
STATE OF ENERGY EMERGENCY
Declared when there is a shortage of energy resources.
Declared by: Governor
Can assist by: Allowing restricons on the use and sales of energy resources to meet essenal services.
FIRE MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE DECLARATION
Declared based on a state request for the migaon, management, and control of res on publicly or
privately-owned forests or grasslands when the threat of major disaster exists. This does not require a local
or state proclamaon or a presidenal declaraon.
Declared by: the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Can assist by: Providing federal nancial assistance state, local, and tribal governments for eligible
reghng costs.
OTHER TYPES OF DECLARATIONS NOT ADMINISTERED BY MSP/EMHSD
UNITED STATES SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION DISASTER DECLARATION
Designated by the Small Business Administraon (SBA) based on a state request. At least 25 homes and/or
three businesses must each have suered uninsured losses of 40% or more. SBA loans are also available in
an IA declaraon.
Can assist by: Providing federally subsidized low interest loans to qualied survivors for disaster repairs and
economic recovery.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) DISASTER DECLARATION
Designated by the USDA Secretary based on a state request.
Can assist by: Designang counes as disaster areas to make emergency (EM) loans available to producers
suering losses in those and neighboring counes.
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PRESIDENTIAL
DECLARATIONS
IN MICHIGAN 1953- 2018
6/16-18/18 Flooding 3 counes: Houghton, Gogebic, and Menominee
6/22/17-6/27/17 Flooding 4 counes: Bay, Gladwin, Isabella, and Midland
8/11-13/14 Urban ooding 3 counes: Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne
4/25/14-8/14/16 Contaminated water City of Flint (Genesee Co.)
4/16/13-5/14/13 Flooding 16 counes: Allegan, Baraga, Barry, Gogebic, Houghton, Ionia, Kent, Keweenaw, Marquee,
Midland, Muskegon, Newaygo, Ontonagon, Osceola, Oawa, and Saginaw
7/14/ 08 Thunderstorms, Flooding 12 counes: Allegan, Barry, Eaton, Ingham, Lake, Manistee, Mason, Missaukee, Osceola,
Oawa, Saginaw, and Wexford
9/07/05 Hurricane Evacuaon All 83 counes
5/20/04-6/8/04 Thunderstorms, Flooding 23 counes: Barry, Berrien, Cass, Eaton, Genesee, Gladwin, Ingham, Ionia, Jackson, Kent,
Livingston, Macomb, Mecosta, Muskegon, Oakland, Oawa, Saginaw, Sanilac, Shiawassee,
St. Clair, St. Joseph, Washtenaw, and Wayne
8/14-17/03 Electric Power Failure 14 counes: Calhoun, Eaton, Genesee, Hillsdale, Ingham, Kalamazoo, Lapeer, Livingston,
Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw, and Wayne
4/10/02-5/9/02 Flooding 6 counes: Baraga, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Marquee, and Ontonagon; plus
the
Keweenaw Bay Indian Community
12/11-31/00 Blizzard, Snowstorm 39 counes: Allegan, Barry, Bay, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Clare, Clinton, Eaton,
Genesee, Gladwin, Graot, Hillsdale, Huron, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kalamazoo,
Kent, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Mecosta, Midland, Montcalm, Muskegon, Oakland,
Osceola, Oawa, Saginaw, St. Clair, St. Joseph, Sanilac, Shiawassee, Tuscola, Van Buren, and
Washtenaw
9/10-11/00 Urban Flooding 2 counes: Oakland and Wayne
5/2-10/99 Wildre 2 counes: Marquee and Mackinac; (Grant Recipient: Michigan Dept. of Natural
Resources)
1/2-15/99 Blizzard, Snowstorm 31 counes: Alcona, Allegan, Arenac, Barry, Berrien, Cass, Crawford, Ionia, Iosco, Jackson,
Kalamazoo, Kent, Lenawee, Macomb, Marquee, Mecosta, Monroe, Montmorency,
Muskegon, Newaygo, Oakland, Oceana, Ogemaw, Osceola, Oscoda, Otsego, Oawa, St.
Joseph, Van Buren, Washtenaw, and Wayne
7/21/98 Thunderstorms, Severe Winds 2 counes: Macomb and Wayne
5/31/98 Thunderstorms, Severe Winds 13 counes: Bay, Clinton, Graot, Ionia, Kent, Mason, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo,
Oceana, Oawa, Saginaw, and Shiawassee
7/2/97 Tornadoes, Flooding 5 counes: Genesee, Macomb, Oakland, Saginaw, and Wayne
6/21-7/1/96 Rainstorms, Flooding, Tornado 7 counes: Bay, Lapeer, Midland, Saginaw, Sanilac, St. Clair, and Tuscola
12/93-5/94 Underground Freeze 10 counes: Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Chippewa, Delta, Gogebic, Houghton, Mackinac,
Marquee, Ontonagon, and Schoolcra
DATE
TYPE OF
INCIDENT
AFFECTED AREA
13
• ELECTED OFFICIAL’S GUIDE TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT •
9/10-19/86 Flooding 30 counes: Allegan, Arenac, Bay, Clare, Clinton, Genesee, Gladwin, Graot, Huron, Ionia,
Isabella, Kent, Lake, Lapeer, Macomb, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Midland, Montcalm,
Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Osceola, Oawa, Saginaw, Sanilac, Shiawassee, Tuscola, and
Van Buren
9/5-6/85 Flooding 6 counes: Alcona, Genesee, Iosco, Lapeer, Saginaw and Shiawassee
3/12-20/82 Flooding 2 counes: Berrien and Monroe
7/15-20/80 Severe Winds 10 counes: Allegan, Berrien, Calhoun, Cass, Jackson, Oawa, St. Joseph, Van Buren,
Washtenaw, and Wayne
5/13/80 Tornado 2 counes: Kalamazoo and Van Buren
1/26-27/78 Blizzard, Snowstorm Statewide
3/2/77 Drought 44 counes: Alcona, Alger, Alpena, Antrim, Arenac, Baraga, Benzie, Charlevoix, Cheboygan,
Chippewa, Clare, Crawford, Delta, Dickinson, Emmet, Gladwin, Gogebic, Grand Traverse,
Houghton, Iosco, Iron, Isabella, Kalkaska, Lake, Leelanau, Luce, Mackinac, Manistee,
Marquee, Mason, Mecosta, Menominee, Missaukee, Montmorency, Oceana, Ogemaw,
Ontonagon, Osceola, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon, Schoolcra, and Wexford
1/26-31/77 Blizzard, Snowstorm 15 counes: Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Cass, Chippewa, Hillsdale, Kalamazoo, Kent, Monroe,
Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Oawa, St. Joseph, and Van Buren
3/20/76, 3/2-7/76 Ice Storm, Tornadoes 29 counes: Allegan, Bay, Clare, Clinton, Genesee, Gladwin, Graot, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson,
Kent, Lapeer, Macomb, Mecosta, Midland, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oakland,
Oceana, Osceola, Oawa, Roscommon, Saginaw, St. Clair, Sanilac, Shiawassee, Tuscola, and
Wayne
8/20/75-9/6/75 Rainstorms, Severe Winds, Flooding 16 counes: Allegan, Clare, Genesee, Graot, Ingham, Isabella, Mecosta, Midland,
Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Osceola, Oawa, Saginaw, and Shiawassee
4/18-30/75 Flooding, Rain, Tornadoes 21 counes: Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Calhoun, Clinton, Crawford, Eaton, Genesee, Ingham,
Ionia, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, Oawa, Saginaw, St. Clair,
Shiawassee, and Van Buren
4/3/74 Tornado 1 county: Hillsdale
4/12/73 Severe Storms, Flooding 14 counes: Arenac, Bay, Berrien, Huron, Iosco, Macomb, Menominee, Monroe, Saginaw,
Sanilac, St. Clair, Tuscola, Van Buren, and Wayne
12/1/72 Severe Storms, Flooding 9 counes: Arenac, Bay, Berrien, Iosco, Macomb, Monroe, St. Clair, Tuscola, and Wayne
4/5/72 Snowstorm, Freezing Rain
9 counes: Allegan, Barry, Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Ingham, Ionia, Jackson, and Kalamazoo
4/11/65 Tornadoes, Severe Storms 16 counes: Allegan, Barry, Bay, Branch, Clinton, Eaton, Graot, Hillsdale, Kalamazoo, Kent,
Lenawee, Monroe, Montcalm, Oawa, Shiawassee, and Washtenaw
4/3/56 Tornado 4 counes: Benzie, Leelanau, Manistee, and Oawa
6/8/53 Tornado 3 counes: Genesee, Iosco, and Monroe
5/21/53 Tornado 1 county: St. Clair
DATE
TYPE OF
INCIDENT
AFFECTED AREA
14
DISTRICT MAP
8
7
3
6
1
5
2 North
2 South
Alcona
Alger
Allegan
Alpena
Antrim
Arenac
Baraga
Barry
Bay
Benzie
Berrien
Branch
Calhoun
Cass
Charlevoix
Cheboygan
Chippewa
Clare
Clinton
Crawford
Delta
Dickinson
Eaton
Emmet
Genesee
Gladwin
Grand
Traverse
Gratiot
Hillsdale
Houghton
Huron
Ingham
Ionia
Iosco
Iron
Isabella
JacksonKalamazoo
Kalkaska
Kent
Keweenaw
Lake
Lapeer
Leelanau
Lenawee
Livingston
Luce
Mackinac
Macomb
Manistee
Marquette
Mason
Mecosta
Menominee
Midland
Missaukee
Monroe
Montcalm
Montmorency
Muskegon
Newaygo
Oakland
Oceana
Ogemaw
Ontona
Gogebic
gon
Osceola
Oscoda
Otsego
Ottawa
Presque Isle
Roscommon
Saginaw
St. Clair
St. Joseph
Sanilac
Schoolcraft
Shiawassee
Tuscola
Van Buren
Washtenaw
Wayne
Wexford
