After historic flooding over the weekend of August 9 and 10, Governor Tony Evers has officially put in aformal request for a Presidential Disaster Declaration.
The request includes Waukesha County, asking for federal assistance for both individuals and households affected by the record breaking rainfall.
If approved by President Donald Trump, it could allow for financial aid to be provided at a level that the state and local governments can’t supply.
Typically, after the impacted Governor puts in a formal request for a Presidential Disaster Declaration, the next portion of the process is handled by FEMA. After a review of the damage assessment, FEMA will make a recommendation to the President about how to respond to the disaster.
The President is then given the power to either approve or deny the request; if approved, he will then also help specify the allocation of the technical and financial aid.
As of August 28, there is no official timeline on when Waukesha County may hear from FEMA.
Milwaukee, Waukesha, and Washington counties were all requested to have access to FEMA’s individual assistance program. Door, Grant, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington, and Waukesha counties were all requested to have access to FEMA’s public assistance program.
FEMA began reviewing the damage on August 19, and were joined by federal, state, and local teams between August 21 and 22 to conduct field assessments.
Initial damage reports have stated that across six counties, there is more than $43 million in public sector damage.
Evers stated that
“Now, I’m urging President Trump to do the right thing and make the appropriate presidential disaster declaration in coordination with the preliminary damage assessment—and quickly and without delay. The folks and families whose homes, businesses, schools, and community centers were severely damaged by this severe weather event are counting on this relief”
More than 1,500 residential structures were destroyed across the state.
In Waukesha County alone, the damage has been reported to be over $95 million, a majority of which comes from private properties.
Waukesha County’s Emergency Management team has vowed to keep the public well informed about FEMA’s decision so that aid can come to those most impacted by the floods and those in need of community support.
