(The Center Square) – Recent flooding in southeastern Wisconsin led to 1,500 homes being destroyed or receiving major damage with an estimated $33 million in residential damage over three counties and $43 million in public sector damage across six counties.
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers requested federal disaster assistance in a Wednesday letter to President Donald Trump.
“Due to the severity of this event and the urgent need for immediate assistance by Wisconsinites in affected areas, I am submitting this request for a major disaster declaration prior to completion of the preliminary damage assessments for Public Assistance to expedite the process and bring critical assistance to our communities as quickly as possible,” Evers wrote.
The damage estimates would make the early- to mid-August flooding event one of the most costly in Wisconsin history.
The most costly was $49 million in flood insurance claims in 2008 along with $24 million in 2018.
Initial damage assessments have been conducted in the area with Federal Emergency Management Agency arriving on Aug. 21 to verify reported flood damage to private homes along with the Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management and Wisconsin Emergency Management.
“Milwaukee County residents have shown incredible resilience in the face of this disaster,” Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley said in a statement. “The completion of FEMA’s Preliminary Damage Assessment is an important milestone, but it’s just one step in the process toward federal assistance. We will continue to stand with our communities, fight for the resources families need, and keep residents informed every step of the way. I am grateful to our local municipalities, the State of Wisconsin, and FEMA for their quick action. This collaboration helps us respond to disasters with both speed and compassion.”
The flooding led to one death and one hospitalization.
Damage to infrastructure occurred in all six counties along with the property damage, according to Evers’ letter. Some areas of Milwaukee County received 14.55 inches of rain on Aug. 9 during a 24-hour period.
“We will leverage all available resources and funding to maximize the impact of any additional federal resources received through a federal disaster declaration to ensure taxpayer dollars are being spent wisely and effectively, and to minimize the impact of any future similar disaster event,” Evers wrote.
