ALPENA — On Wednesday, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer visited Washington D.C. and was able to update President Donald Trump on the impacts and developments from a historic ice storm that hit northern Michigan late in March.

The powerful storm caused mass power outages, knocked out internet and cell phone coverage, caused a gas shortage, and forced the National Guard into action.

While in the nation’s capital, Whitmer spoke with Trump about the storm and other important issues in Michigan, such as the threat of Asian carp in the Great Lakes and the future of Selfridge Air Force base.

Whitmer was also in attendance in the Oval Office, along with Michigan State House Speaker Matt Hall, when Trump was signing several executive orders, and she chatted briefly in front of the media with the president about the issues.

In a statement from a spokesperson from the governor’s office on Thursday, the governor’s office said Whitmer appreciated the president’s willingness to help her tackle the issues she had discussed with him.

“At the White House (Wednesday), Gov. Whitmer had a meeting with Speaker Hall and President Trump to discuss the northern Michigan ice storm, investing in Michigan’s defense assets, like Selfridge Air National Guard Base, tariffs and the importance of creating good-paying American jobs and bringing back critical supply chains, and keeping our Great Lakes clean and safe,” he statement says. “Governor Whitmer thanks President Trump for his acknowledgements on protecting the Great Lakes from invasive carp, his work on Selfridge, and his openness to our request for help in northern Michigan.”

At the peak of the ice storm, tens of thousands of people were without power in just Northeast Michigan alone. The ice damage also caused mass power outages on the northwest side of the state and in the Gaylord area.

Many people are still without power.

At the request of the area counties, Whitmer declared a state of emergency for the area, and resources, such as oxygen, bedding, generators, and other critical needs, began to pour in. The lineworkers from all over the country and Canada also traveled to the area to assist with the restoration effort.

Late last week, Whitmer toured the damage in the Petoskey, Gaylord, and Alpena area and pleaded to provide as much relief as needed, and stated she intended to continue to communicate with Trump if federal assets were needed.

Last Friday, Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist also visited Alpena to tour the storm damage and get an update on the recovery effort.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 or sschulwitz@TheAlpenaNews.com. Follow him on X @ss_alpenanews.com.