GRANHOLM - Governor Granholm Authorizes National Guard to Assist Communities Under State of Emergency

LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today issued an executive order activating the Michigan National Guard to assist jurisdictions operating under a state of emergency because of storms that swept the state earlier this month. The jurisdictions include the cities of Lansing and Saginaw and the counties of Allegan, Eaton and Mason.

"As emergency personnel struggle to protect citizens, we are providing them with the direct assistance they need to eliminate any risk to public safety that has resulted from the devastating storms that swept the state earlier this month," Granholm said. "The Michigan National Guard is trained and ready to assist the communities and will begin doing so immediately."

Under Executive Order 2008-9, the active units and individuals in the Michigan National Guard are authorized to help with various projects where there is a genuine issue of public safety. As early as today, the National Guard is expected to provide assistance to the city of Lansing in removing debris that may be blocking line of sight at traffic intersections, blocking fire hydrants, or otherwise posing an unacceptable level of risk to public safety. Assistance to the other four communities may be made available depending upon assessment of the public safety risks and available resources.

On Friday, Governor Granholm declared a state of emergency in the five jurisdictions at the request of local officials. Those emergency declarations authorize the MSP Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division to coordinate all state efforts in preserving and acquiring state resources to assist with immediate threats to public health and safety related to the severe weather that began June 6.

Executive Orders 2008-4 through 2008-8 allow resources from all state departments to be deployed in local response efforts. Such resources include, but are not limited to, personnel from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and MSP, along with supplies, equipment, materials, or facilities from all state departments.

In addition to the Michigan State Police and the Michigan Department of Transportation, the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, Department of Environmental Quality, and Department of Natural Resources are playing instrumental roles in assisting local officials. Other state agencies may provide assistance as resource needs are identified.

This is the first time Granholm has activated the National Guard since August 9, 2007, when she issued EO 2007-39 to provide local jurisdictions with assistance during the Sleeper Lake Fire in Luce County.

Executive orders can be found at www.michigan.gov/gov