{"generated_at":"2026-08-24T04:31:05.775Z","disaster":{"id":"69bb36b6bed22136d6019d28","slug":"northern-michigan-winter-storm-march-2026","name":"Northern Michigan Winter Storm March 2026","status":"long_term_recovery","type":"winter_storm","date_reported":"2026-03-15","affected_regions":"Roscommon, Alcona, Alpena, Ogemaw, Missaukee, and Wexford, Michigan","coordinates":"45.4500,-84.6000","overview":"<p>A major March winter storm brought heavy snow, ice, strong winds, dangerous travel, and prolonged power outages across Northern Michigan. The hardest-hit areas include Roscommon, Alcona, Alpena, Ogemaw, Missaukee, and Wexford counties, where thousands of homes and businesses lost electricity and emergency declarations were issued. In Roscommon County alone, nearly 90% of customers were reported without power early in the event, and more than 10,000 customers were still out as of the morning of March 18. State officials declared a state of emergency for several counties and a statewide energy emergency to support fuel delivery and response operations.</p><p><br></p><ul><li>Roscommon County declared a local emergency after the storm, with nearly <strong>90% of the county without electricity</strong> at one point.&nbsp;</li><li>More than <strong>100,000 Northern Michigan residents</strong> were reported without power on March 16.&nbsp;</li><li>As of the morning of <strong>March 18</strong>, outage counts still included about <strong>10,448 in Roscommon County</strong>, <strong>6,665 in Ogemaw County</strong>, and <strong>2,532 in Iosco County</strong>.&nbsp;</li><li>Governor Whitmer declared a <strong>state of emergency</strong> for <strong>Alcona, Alpena, Delta, Missaukee, Ogemaw, Roscommon, and Wexford counties</strong> and also declared a <strong>statewide energy emergency</strong>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ul>","url":"https://app.servesource.org/DisasterDetail?disaster=northern-michigan-winter-storm-march-2026","last_updated":"2026-07-29T03:59:51.902Z"},"response_count":1,"truncated":false,"responses":[{"id":"69bb37d9451c1807f42fb49a","organization":{"id":"697bda32f98f8196736e3d0c","name":"Mercy Chefs","url":"https://app.servesource.org/OrganizationDetail?id=697bda32f98f8196736e3d0c","org_type":"faith_based_nonprofit","primary_category":null,"services":[],"website":"https://mercychefs.com/","logo":"https://base44.app/api/apps/695c704f24f26045c4d0f1c0/files/public/695c704f24f26045c4d0f1c0/78e2a5eec_MercyChefs-2025.jpg","description":null,"region":null,"faith_based":true,"verified_tier":"verified_faith_based_partner","drrn_member":true},"scope":"disaster","services":["Food Distribution/Meals"],"start_date":"2026-03-21","end_date":"2026-03-28","narrative":"Our team is bringing a mobile kitchen into the community to serve hot meals, working alongside a local church to reach as many people as possible. When the power is out and the cold sets in, a hot, chef-prepared meal doesn’t just warm the body; it touches the soul.\n\nIf you would like to help us serve families facing frigid temperatures without a way to stay warm, you can support this work by visiting the link.","website_link":"https://mercychefs.com/","location":{"name":null,"address":"Roscommon County, Michigan","city":"Denton Township","county":"Roscommon County","state":"Michigan","coordinates":"44.3326932, -84.6165164"},"has_volunteer_opportunity":false,"volunteer_tags":[],"last_updated":"2026-08-20T16:13:55.696000"}]}