Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has postponed a speech planned for Thursday in Washington, D.C. to respond to storm cleanup in northern Michigan.

A long stretch of days without power, internet access and in some cases, fuel, could be coming to an end for northern Michigan residents. Governor Gretchen Whitmer deployed the Michigan National Guard to assist ice storm recovery efforts as northern Michigan attempts to overcome the powerful storm that swept across the state on March 30.

Following a string of ice storms which tore through the northern Lower Peninsula over the weekend, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is expanding her initial state of emergency and deploying the Michigan National Guard to help clear roadways and areas overcome by debris.