Van Buren County Seeks Coastal Disaster Declaration

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The Van Buren County Board of Commissioners has approved a resolution asking the Michigan Legislature and the governor to declare the Great Lakes shoreline a disaster area. Van Buren County Administrator John Faul tells WSJM News the action taken by the board this week mirrors what the Berrien County Commission did last year.

“I think we all have a united question to the state to consider a declaration of a state of emergency for the shoreline and then seek assistance from the federal government,” Faul said.

Faul says similar resolutions are being passed up and down the Lake Michigan coast. The county commission this week viewed a video taken from a Michigan State Police helicopter showing how much of the shore in Van Buren County has been eroded this year.

“It’s more noticeable to see in the protected dune area were you can see where it might have been sloping down to the lake where it’s now a cliff sort of ending at the dune, and how close it’s starting to encroach some of the houses.”

Faul says the city of South Haven is also heavily affected with its beaches and pier being overrun with water. He notes the Van Buren County Office of Domestic Preparedness is assessing the coastal situation to determine just how much damage has taken place. If the state declares a disaster, the thought is that the federal government could then do the same, freeing up money to respond.