WAYNE COUNTY, Mich. - President Biden today declared a federal emergency for Wayne County and Michigan in the wake of last month's storm-related flooding, a move that clears the way for direct financial assistance to affected residents and local communities, Wayne County Executive Evans said.

"The flood damage to thousands of Wayne County residents has been devastating," Executive Evans said. "The Emergency Declaration from President Biden will speed aid to our communities as their residents and businesses recover and rebuild. I also want to thank the members of Wayne County's Congressional Delegation - Congresswomen Debbie Dingell, Rashida Tlaib, Brenda Lawrence, and Haley Stevens - for their efforts in helping secure this emergency designation."

With the declaration comes direct assistance and coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Administration, the State of Michigan, Wayne County, and local communities. FEMA will coordinate direct assistance to affected individuals. Details on how and when residents can apply for assistance will be forthcoming in the coming days and weeks as FEMA ramps up its operations in Wayne County, and around the state.

Wayne County Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Tadarial Sturdivant added: "Wayne County has had boots on the ground helping residents and our communities since the rains started to fall. We worked closely to secure immediate assistance in the flooding aftermath and to document the extent of the damage to help secure today's federal emergency declaration."

Of the more than 19,000 Wayne County homes and businesses damaged in last month's floods, 116 were completely destroyed, 14,410 sustained major damage, and 3,898 sustained minor damage. The flooding also impacted another 840 properties and homes in some reportable way.