During the July 23 severe rain event, a 10-inch diameter culvert and a 3-inch overflow culvert were washed out of the Kemppa Road, in Misery Bay, Ontonagon County. (Courtesy photo)

ONTONAGON — In response to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s state of emergency declaration for Houghton and Ontonagon counties on Aug. 28, Mike Kocher, Ontonagon County Emergency Management coordinator, and Houghton County Office of Emergency Measures Director Chris Van Arsdale issued a joint statement, in which they both expressed appreciation for the declaration, saying collectively, the two counties suffered more than $5,000,000 in road damages.

On July 23, Houghton County received up to 4 inches of rain over a four-hour period, causing flash flooding that damaged public infrastructure including roads, culverts, and storm sewers. In Ontonagon County, the same heavy rain event washed out multiple roads, causing extensive damage and limiting access to communities.

Kocker said the extent of monetary damage depends on permits required from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, but for Ontonagon County, the total exceeds $1 million.

“That’s for just the Misery Bay Road itself,” he said. “The thing that made it somewhat unusual for an emergency, per se, is the weather left over a dozen homes stranded. Not having the ability to get full-sized vehicles through there.”

Kocher said the Ontonagon County Road Commission utilized 90% of all the trucks they own to make temporary repairs to the road. “You have to remember,” he said, “Misery Bay is at the top of Ontonagon County and extends all the way down to Paulding, half way between Paulding and Watersmeet, so there some dozen dump trucks from all the garages hauling material, and ended up using any contacts with the Houghton County Road Commission.”

For eight to 12 hours, said Kocher, the county was limited in responding to the emergency with full-sized vehicles due to the Misery Bay Road, a primary road, being wiped out.

Kocker said the damage estimate is between $1.1 and $1.4 million, which amounts to about 25% of the Road Commission’s annual budget.

“The county’s Road Commission’s operating budget is a little over $4 million,” he said. So, in context, when I talked to other people, they were hit with an added expense of 25%. So, when the county’s budget is hit that severely, there’s no way to make that up.” With a shortfall of one quarter of the budget, Kocker said there is that much less revenue for road repair and snow plowing.

Damage from the July 23 rain event was not confined to roads.

“We also recognize the dozens of fire fighters and first responders who stepped up during the incidents to pump basements, close roads, and try and re-establish transportation in impacted communities,” the joint statement says. Kocker said the significance of the governor’s declaring a state of emergency is that assists Houghton and Keweenaw counties in applying for federal grants through the Federal Highway Administration Emergency Relief program.

The governor’s emergency declaration allows opportunities for state financial assistance under Section 19 of Michigan’s Emergency Management Act (Public Act 390 of 1976, as amended, MCL 30.401 to 30.421), which provides disaster relief funding to help local governments cover response costs and restore public infrastructure.

Additional state and federal funding programs may be pursued based on damage assessments and eligibility, including potential reimbursement through federal highway and disaster assistance programs.

Kocher said the assistant grant would provide 80% of the total amount with the county providing the remaining 20%.

“So by the governor signing the emergency declaration,” he said, “it opens up the doors for Houghton and Ontonagon counties to apply for that grant.” “It’s an 80/20 grant,” said Kocher. “That’s pretty substantial.”