Governor Whitmer Announces U.S. Small Business Administration Disaster Declared for Southwest Michigan Counties Recovering from Deadly Tornado Outbreak

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 30, 2026

Contact: [email protected]

Governor Whitmer Announces U.S. Small Business Administration Disaster Declared for Southwest Michigan Counties Recovering from Deadly Tornado Outbreak

LANSING, Mich. -- Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has granted an administrative disaster declaration for Branch, Cass, and St. Joseph counties.

The SBA disaster assistance program makes low-interest loans available to residents, businesses, and non-profitsaffected by a deadly tornado outbreak on March 6 that killed four people and caused catastrophic damage to homes and business.

"Following deadly tornadoes in Southwestern Michigan, communities are working hard to rebuild," said Governor Whitmer. "We're working side by side with them every step of the way to deliver real relief. This SBA declaration will help us connect communities and small businesses with the resources they need to get back on their feet. Michiganders are strong, and we will get through this. Let's keep doing the work together to make a difference."

"This tornado outbreak left a profound impact on communities across Southwest Michigan, disrupting lives, damaging homes and businesses and leaving many families with a long road to recovery," said Col. James F. Grady II, director of the Michigan State Police (MSP) and state director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security. "This SBA disaster declaration is a critical step in the recovery process, opening the door to financial assistance for those impacted. The MSP Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division will continue to work with these communities to support recovery efforts every step of the way."

"I'm glad that SBA granted the disaster declaration requested by Governor Whitmer and supported by bipartisan members of the Michigan congressional delegation," said U.S. Senator Gary Peters. "People and businesses affected by the tornadoes across Southwest Michigan will now be eligible for low-interest federal disaster loans to help rebuild and recover from these devastating storms."

"After being on the ground with officials and continuing to hear from affected constituents from the recent devastating tornadoes in southwestern Michigan, I'm grateful to the Small Business Administration for approving our disaster declaration request," said U.S. Representative Tim Walberg. "This swift action will help ensure that community members and small businesses have access to the financial support they need to recover and rebuild. In moments like this, timely assistance makes a real difference, and this support will help our communities move forward from this tragic weather event with resilience and hope."

The SBA disaster assistance program provides low-interest loans for homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private nonprofit organizations to repair or replace real estate, personal property, machinery and equipment, inventory, and business assets that were damaged or destroyed. The SBA tailors the repayment of each disaster loan to the borrower's financial capability.

Eligible Counties

• Branch, Cass, St. Joseph counties and the bordering counties of Berrien, Calhoun, Hillsdale, Kalamazoo, and Van Buren.

Types of Disaster Loans are Available

• Business Physical Disaster Loans- Loans to businesses to repair or replace disaster-damaged property owned by the business, including real estate, inventories, supplies, machinery and equipment. Businesses of any size are eligible. Private, non-profitorganizations such as charities, churches, private universities, etc., are also eligible.

• Economic Injury Disaster Loans- Working capital loans to help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster. These loans are intended to assist through the disaster recovery period.

• Home Disaster Loans- Loans to homeowners or renters to repair or replace disaster-damaged real estate and personal property, including automobiles.

SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Centers

• Cass District Library

319 M-62 North Cassopolis, MI 49031

Monday - Friday: 9:00am-5:00pm

Saturday: 10:00am-2:00pm

Sunday: Closed

• St. Joseph County

52 N. Main Street Three Rivers, MI 49093

Monday - Friday: 9:00am-5:00pm

Saturday: 10:00am-2:00pm

Sunday: Closed

• Branch District Library

195 N. Broadway Street Union City, MI 49094

Monday: 1:00p.m. - 5:00p.m.

Tuesday-Friday: 9:00a.m. - 5:00p.m.

Saturday: 9:00a.m. - 1:00p.m.

Sunday: Closed

Loan applications are also available online or by mail. For additional information on low-interest SBA loans or the application process, visit the MySBA Loan Portal or call 1-800-659-2955.

About the Disaster

Four tornadoes with intensities ranging from EF-0 to EF-3 impacted southern Lower Michigan on March 6, 2026. Communities near Edwardsburg, Cass County, in and around the city of Three Rivers, St. Joseph County, and along the north side of Union Lake in Union City, Branch County, were among the hardest hit. The tornadoes damaged or destroyed numerous homes and businesses, overturned vehicles, and sheared trees. A 12-year-old child in Cass County lost their life, along with three adults in Union City. The storm also caused significant power outages across the region.

A joint Preliminary Damage Assessment with local, state, and federal officials was conducted on March 17 to assess and validate the most severely affected areas. Based on the findings, state officials determined the damage met the threshold to request federal assistance.

On April 1, Gov. Whitmer requested that President Donald J. Trump declare a major disaster in to support recovery from the deadly tornado outbreak. The governor has requested activation of all areas of the Individual Assistance (IA) program for the counties of Branch, Cass, and St. Joseph. This federal disaster request is still pending.

For more information on how to prepare before, during and after an emergency or disaster, visit MIREADY and follow MSP/EMHSD on X and Facebook.

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