State Emergency Operations Center Deactivated

Contact: Ron Leix, MSP/EMHSD Public Information Officer, 517-336-6464

Agency: State Police

News Release No. 5 Sept. 11, 2015 4 p.m.

Lansing, Mich. The Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security
Division (MSP/EMHSD) today deactivated the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC), which
had been activated to provide support to Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties with storm cleanup
since Aug. 11.
Although the state of Michigan has begun demobilizing state resources, we are still helping
Leelanau and Grand Traverse counties continue their recovery, said Capt. Chris A. Kelenske,
Deputy State Director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and commander of the
MSP/EMHSD. Our agency will be working closely with local emergency management officials in
both counties to ensure they have everything needed as they return to a sense of normalcy.
During the month-long SEOC activation, state and local personnel worked in partnership to remove
and dispose of tree debris throughout the two counties. Representatives from the departments of
Corrections, Health and Human Services, Military and Veterans Affairs, Natural Resources, State
Police, Technology Management and Budget, and Transportation staffed the center in Lansing to
coordinate the use of state resources.
At the peak of operations, the state of Michigan mobilized eight tree service contractors, four wood
chippers, four dump trucks, three inmate work crews and an excavator to remove and process the
extraordinary amount of fallen tree debris in the two counties.
On Sept. 4, Gov. Rick Snyder opened the Disaster and Emergency Contingency Fund to provide
financial assistance to Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties. Affected local governments in both
counties may apply for assistance grants up to $100,000 to cover some costs incurred due to the
disaster.
About the Disaster
Snyder declared a "state of disaster" on Aug. 10 for Grand Traverse County after severe
thunderstorms caused widespread and severe damage on Aug. 2. Upon direction of the governor,
the MSP/EMHSD amended the declaration to include Leelanau County on Aug. 14.
By declaring a "state of disaster," the state of Michigan made available all state resources in
cooperation with local response and recovery efforts in the disaster area.

The SEOC is the emergency operations center for the state of Michigan. Located in Lansing, the
SEOC is overseen by the MSP/EMHSD and coordinates response and recovery efforts by state
agencies and local government. The SEOC is staffed by members of state agencies for decision
making and information coordination during disasters or emergencies in the state of Michigan.