(LANSING) – Four Southwest Michigan counties will get a portion of State funds to provide financial assistance following the May 7 tornadoes that struck the area.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced Monday morning that $10,997,209 from the State’s Disaster and Emergency Contingency Fund will be given to 17 counties.

Of that amount, $1,601,555 will be given to St. Joseph, Branch, Kalamazoo and Cass Counties, who applied for the funding following the May 7 storms and tornadoes that moved through the area. The storms caused significant damage to homes, businesses and the power grid.

Whitmer declared a State of Emergency for the four counties.

The majority of the $1.6 million, just over $1.5 million, will be going to Kalamazoo County. St. Joseph County will be getting almost $21,000, while Branch County will receive just over $31,000 and Cass County will get just over $13,000.

Clean up and debris removal from the storms has been going on for several weeks. The funding from the State can be applied toward costs associated with the response to a disaster or emergency, covering overtime for public employees, contracts, shelter supplies, gasoline and repair of public buildings and roads.