Snowmelt and wet weather increase flood risk in spring, but Wisconsinites can protect themselves with flood insurance. / Photo Credit: iStock/djperry
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The Trump administration approved Gov. Tony Evers’ request for a major disaster declaration for counties impacted by severe storms and flooding last month.
Preliminary damage estimates indicate that the storms caused 1,500 residential structures to be destroyed or sustain major damage. Estimates show total damage costs are over $33 million, as well as more than $43 million in public sector damage throughout six Wisconsin counties.
Evers’ formal request included six Wisconsin counties: Milwaukee, Washington, and Waukesha counties for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Individual Assistance program and Door, Grant, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington, and Waukesha counties for FEMA’s Public Assistance program.
At this time, the presidential disaster declaration is only applicable for individuals and households in Milwaukee, Washington, and Waukesha Counties. FEMA will set a certain date by which flood survivors must apply for Individual Assistance.
The anticipated nearly $30 million reportedly approved is the federal share of the validated damage submitted in the governor’s Individual Assistance request. Once the Individual Assistance application process starts, the actual monetary amount of benefits will be based on eligible applications that are submitted and approved through the process.
Information on how residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties will be available shortly to support recovery efforts.
How to Apply
Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance here: https://www.disasterassistance.gov/
Or, by calling the Federal Emergency Management Agency at 800-621-FEMA (3362).
Learn more: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WIGOV/bulletins/3f24162
