HUD DEPUTY SECRETARY TODMAN, OFFICIALS DISCUSS $5.5 MILLION IN FEDERAL DISASTER RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE FUNDS FOR MIDLAND, MICHIGAN

Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman, in her office, speaking with local and state officials about HUD's awarding of federal disaster recovery and resilience funds to Midland, Michigan.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman today held a Zoom call to discuss the nearly $5.5 million in new federal disaster relief awarded by HUD to Midland, Michigan to assist in the city's recovery from severe storms and floods in May 2020. The new Community Development Block Grant Declared Disaster Recovery Fund (DDR) money will help Midland communities rebuild and become more resilient to future disasters.

Deputy Secretary Todman was joined on the call by Midland, Michigan Mayor Maureen Donker, Midland City Manager Brad Kaye, and Michigan State Housing Development Authority Acting Executive Director Gary Heidel.

"Communities can thrive in the face of climate change when they invest in a resilient recovery," said Deputy Secretary Todman. "That is why I am pleased that HUD is awarding $5.5 million in new federal funding to assist the Midland community in their recovery from the severe storms and floods of May 2020. With this funding, Midland will have the resources it needs to improve the community's climate resilience and the lives of those most impacted by the flooding, particularly low- and moderate-income families and individuals."

"The City of Midland is extremely grateful to HUD for this generous support," said City of Midland Mayor Maureen Donker. "Midland has seen significant tragedy and triumph in recent years, with devastating flooding events in 2017 and, more recently, the Edenville and Sanford dam failures in 2020. These events impacted the lives of residents, derailed businesses, and even affected our municipal operations. We've listened to the community to identify unmet needs, and, with these funds, we will improve infrastructure, address post-flood housing challenges, and become more sustainable and responsive to these events as we continue to grow and change as a community. Thank you for this support which helps Midland continue its legacy of being a place where everyone thrives."

"After speaking with several residents in Midland who were impacted by the flood, I know this help will bring a sense of healing and offering to the community," said Midland Housing Commission Commissioner Erin Patrice. "Many felt helpless and hopeless after the devastating loss that they encountered. I believe this can bring much help and some hope back to many."

"This grant will allow some of the hardest hit Midland families and businesses to rebuild from the catastrophic flooding last year and provides an opportunity for the City to build more resilient infrastructure," said Midland Housing Commission Commissioner Haseeb Moten. "Thank you to HUD and the City employees that have worked hard to make this possible."

"The County of Midland is very excited about the grant being awarded to the City of Midland," said County of Midland Administrator/Controller Bridgette Gransden. "The residents of the City as well as other areas of the county, were devastated by the historic flood and dam failures of 2020. We welcome any mitigation funding available."

"We will work tirelessly to get communities hit hard by natural disasters the help they need to recover and rebuild," said Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. "I am grateful that our federal partners at the Department of Housing and Urban Development are sending $5.5 million to help Michiganders in Midland rebuild from May 2020's severe storms and floods. We have a lot of work to do to make lasting investments in our infrastructure to make it more resilient. I know that we can come together to put Michiganders first and get it done."

Midland experienced historic flooding as a result of rainfall from May 17 to May 19, 2020. The rain caused the Edenville and Sanford Dams to fail, resulting in widespread flooding that destroyed homes and forced thousands of residents to evacuate. On July 9, 2020, FEMA issued a major disaster declaration for Arenac, Gladwin, Iosco, Midland, and Saginaw Counties. Midland still faces unmet needs: HUD's analysis of FEMA registrant data shows more than 800 homes in Midland that received damage due to the dam failure, with more than 500 of the homes having serious unmet needs such has housing repair and rehabilitation.

The $5,476,035 in DDR funds announced today will assist Midland in addressing emergency community development needs resulting from this disaster. The city can use the funding to facilitate natural infrastructure to reduce future flooding, reconstruct infrastructure with resilient and green features, and retrofit low- and moderate-income homes to repair damage while increasing energy efficiency and resilience.

DDR funds are made available in accordance with Section 106(c)(4) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, which allows the HUD Secretary to use CDBG funds that have been recaptured pursuant to CDBG program sanctions for the purpose of addressing recovery efforts from major disasters. It also indicates that HUD shall make these funds available to metropolitan cities and urban counties located or partially located in areas affected by major disasters declared pursuant to the Stafford Act, and shall give priority to providing emergency assistance. HUD may also provide assistance to a metro city or urban county if they have been covered by a major declared disaster for which the declaration occurred in the past three years.

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