As thousands of residents remained without power Friday after a tornado touched down in Detroit and rounds of severe storms swept southeast Michigan, officials and community organizations shared resources to help people recover and navigate the aftermath.
City of Detroit resources
- Emergency housing: Residents in need of emergency housing can call the housing helpline at 866-313-2520.
- Power outages: Contact DTE Energy at 877-447-4747 to report an outage or check restoration updates.
- Downed power lines: Stay clear of all downed lines and assume they are live. Call 911 if there is an immediate threat to life or safety.
- Downed trees: Report fallen trees to the Detroit Forestry Division at 313-590-3336.
- Lost pets: Search for lost pets or report found animals through 24PetConnect.
- Other storm-related issues: Submit reports through the Improve Detroit app or at DetroitMI.gov.
Community resources
Water is available at the Coleman A. Young Community Center for residents concerned about their water quality. Officials advise residents not to drink tap water that looks, smells or tastes unusual and to avoid drinking it if there is any question about its safety.
Residents can also pick up batteries from the center, and DTE is providing informational pamphlets.
St. Joseph's Helpers is directing residents affected by the storm to their online resource hub that connects people with assistance programs.
"While St. Joseph’s Helpers cannot repair this type of storm damage, Julie’s List, our resource website, can help you find local organizations and programs that may assist with emergency needs, home repairs, housing, utilities, and more," according to St. Joseph's Helpers on Facebook.
Resources available through Julie's List include:
- MDHHS State Emergency Relief: Home Repairs
- Detroit Critical Home Repair Program (scheduled to reopen Sept. 9, 2026.
- Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS)
- Information on filing insurance claims, documenting damage, preventing additional losses and avoiding contractor scams.
For emergencies involving downed power lines, fires, gas leaks or structural damage that makes a home unsafe, residents should call 911 immediately.
If you are aware of any other resources that should be included on this list, please email nrahal@freep.com
Nour Rahal is a trending and breaking news reporter for the Detroit Free Press.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: A guide to Detroit storm recovery resources
