As Northern Michigan reels from one of the worst ice storms in its history, tens of thousands of residents are left cold, in the dark and without help. Homes have become iceboxes, roads are impassable and entire communities are cut off. But amid all this chaos, the most chilling absence is not just power – it is leadership.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Representative Jack Bergman have failed to rise to the moment. Their delayed, reactive approaches reveal a deeper issue than slow response times: a failure to plan, prioritize and genuinely represent Northern Michigan’s people when it mattered most.

Governor Whitmer declared a state of emergency on March 31 after the storm’s destructive path was evident. Her administration activated the State Emergency Operations Center after communities suffered. Yes, she suspended trucking restrictions and deployed the National Guard – but these actions came days too late. Where was the preemptive resource mobilization? Where was the urgency to prepare utility companies and local governments before disaster struck? Northern Michigan is no stranger to harsh weather. The absence of meaningful preparation speaks volumes.

Meanwhile, Representative Bergman praised Whitmer’s emergency declaration and thanked first responders. While gratitude is warranted, it does nothing to heat homes or reconnect power lines. His acknowledgment of the “unprecedented damage” rings hollow when it is not accompanied by decisive action. Bergman represents a vast, rural district uniquely vulnerable to storms like this one. He should anticipate those vulnerabilities, secure federal resources in advance and push utilities to develop resilient contingency plans. Instead, his response has been reactive, not visionary – too little, too late.

The actual cost of this failure is measured not in words but in human suffering. Families are huddling around gas stoves and fireplaces to stay warm. Hospitals are running on backup generators. Local businesses are improvising to survive. Utility companies like Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op have warned that it could take weeks to restore service due to the sheer number of downed poles and power lines.

Yes, linemen and first responders deserve praise – they do heroic work under impossible conditions. But leadership means more than thanking those on the ground. It means ensuring they are not overwhelmed in the first place. It means demanding stronger, storm-hardened infrastructure. It means pushing for funding before catastrophe hits. It means being visible, vocal and relentless in advocating for the communities you represent – not just during press conferences after disaster strikes.

Northern Michigan has long prided itself on resilience. But resilience does not power a furnace, clear a road or replace proactive governance.

This storm should serve as a wake-up call. The region cannot continue to be an afterthought – reactive leadership is not leadership at all. Michiganders deserve leaders who do not just show up for photo opportunities when disaster strikes but who work year-round to prevent that disaster from occurring in the first place. Leadership is not about managing a crisis once it is already out of control – it is about doing the work beforehand to prevent it from becoming a crisis at all.

If Whitmer and Bergman want to prove they are fit to lead, they must learn this lesson quickly. If not, it is time for new leadership  – leadership that sees the storm coming, not just the damage left behind.

Justin Michal is a Grayling native, veteran and Republican candidate for Michigan’s 1st Congressional District.