WASHINGTON ― President Donald Trump said late Tuesday that Michigan will receive $32.1 million in federal disaster relief aid following tornadoes that resulted in four deaths and significant property damage in southwest Michigan in March.

Trump posted on social media that he had spoken to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to inform her of the approval, and "she was very grateful." Whitmer's office said she spoke to the president Tuesday night.

Whitmer on April 1 had asked Trump to declare a major disaster in three southwest Michigan counties — Branch, Cass, and St. Joseph — that were hit hard by the March 6 storms, seeking federal individual assistance grants to help with home repairs, temporary housing and other recovery costs for those who sustained uninsured or underinsured losses.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency had denied the federal individual aid, as well as funding through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program that helps communities with projects that reduce future disaster risks and strengthen long-term resilience.

Last week, Whitmer had appealed FEMA's decision to deny her requests, saying that families "are still recovering from the devastation caused by the March tornadoes."

Members of Michigan's delegation on Monday wrote separately to Trump urging the Republican president to reconsider his denial of a major disaster declaration for the affected region and in support of Whitmer’s appeal.

Sens. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, and Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, and Reps. Bill Huizenga, R-Holland, and Tim Walberg, R-Tipton, called for two program activations: the Individual Assistance program for Branch, Cass and St. Joseph counties, as well as the activation of the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program statewide, according to a news release.

The lawmakers stressed that the Michigan’s response and recovery capabilities have been "overburdened" by recent disasters.

The National Weather Service confirmed that four tornadoes hit southwest Michigan on the afternoon of March 6. The storm marked the state's deadliest weather event in nearly 50 years.

An EF3 tornado with winds of roughly 160 miles per hour tore through the Union City area in Branch County, injuring 12 and killing three. An EF1 tornado hit Edwardsburg in Cass County, resulting in the death of a 12-year-old boy.

An EF2 tornado with winds of at least 130 miles per hour slammed Three Rivers in St. Joseph County, and an EF0 tornado with winds peaking at about 85 mph touched down in Clarendon Township in Calhoun County.

State officials established that across the the three counties, 33 homes were destroyed, 74 sustained major damage and 207 had minor damage, Whitmer said in her initial letter to Trump seeking federal aid.

About 100 households may qualify for temporary housing assistance, 67 for housing repair assistance and eight for housing replacement aid. But those numbers may "severely underestimate" the impact on individuals and houses, Whitmer wrote in March.

The letter estimated the counties needed about $1.4 million in federal individual and housing aid grants, including roughly $201,000 for temporary housing assistance, $497,000 for repair assistance, $385,000 for replacement assistance and $454,000 for other needs assistance.

The damage from the southwest Michigan tornadoes, combined with a rash of other severe weather events over the past two years, has put a strain on state aid resources, especially in light of an expected state budget shortfall, Whitmer wrote.

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Staff Writer Beth LeBlanc contributed.

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