Alpena mayor, staff thank responders as city continues recovery from ice storm

Mayor Cindy Johnson opened the April 7 Alpena City Council meeting by thanking emergency responders, city staff and volunteers for their work during an "unprecedented weather event" that left parts of the city without power for days.

The mayor said the Public Safety Building opened as a warming and charging center, and praised the door-to-door outreach led by Andy Marceau (not present) that helped ensure residents had access to services. "Thank you for going above and beyond during the last 10 days," Johnson said.

Councilmembers and staff acknowledged continued needs for residents and businesses still without power and said more information on assistance would be provided "shortly." The mayor also thanked county leaders, Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Representative Cam Cabot and Senator Huitinga for their support during the response.

Council members and meeting speakers reported damage in public and private spaces. A speaker identified as representing HHS described moving animals from a shelter during outages; some animals were cared for by Schweitzer’s clinic and a board member who provided a heated garage. The speaker said power to the shelter was restored and the facility was being cleaned with plans to return animals as soon as it is safe.

Council members and staff asked residents with large amounts of tree debris to seek assistance; the shelter representative asked for help cutting and chipping downed trees. Staff indicated city crews and partners have been working on snow, ice and fallen-tree removal since the storm.

The council did not take additional formal action on recovery at the April 7 meeting but signaled continued coordination with county, state and nonprofit partners as recovery moves into a phase of cleanup and infrastructure repair.