Press Releases

This week, Rep. Jack Bergman expressed his full support for Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s request for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration in response to the devastating ice storm that struck Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula in March.

In a letter to President Donald J. Trump, Rep. Jack Bergman urged the President to swiftly approve the disaster declaration to provide urgently needed federal support and ensure the full recovery of impacted communities across Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.

The letter stated in part, "I write to offer my full support for Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s May 16, 2025, request for a Major Disaster Declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act) in response to the severe ice storm that struck Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula from March 28-30, 2025."

"I firmly believe the severity and scope of this storm exceed the ability of the State of Michigan and local governments to respond without federal support. I respectfully urge you to approve Governor Whitmer’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration without delay. The people of Northern Michigan are among the toughest and most resilient in our Nation, but they should not be left to shoulder the burden of this disaster alone."

The storm brought historic levels of freezing rain across thirteen counties – Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Montmorency, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, Kalkaska, and Mackinac. The resulting ice caused widespread damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure, knocking out power and heat for tens of thousands of residents. In the hardest-hit areas, outages persisted for more than two weeks.

Rep. Bergman commended the rapid and coordinated response by local emergency personnel, volunteers, the Michigan National Guard, and thousands of utility workers.

“These men and women worked around the clock in freezing, hazardous conditions to clear debris, conduct wellness checks, restore communications, deliver food and medical supplies, and reconnect entire communities to critical services.”

“While no lives were lost to the storm, the absence of fatalities should not be viewed as a reflection of the storm’s intensity – it is rather a testament to the tireless and heroic efforts of all those who responded when their communities needed them the most,” said Bergman.