MADISON – Governor Scott Walker today sent a letter to President Donald J. Trump requesting a federal disaster declaration for 11 western Wisconsin counties that sustained flood damage in July. Torrential rains and flash floods caused more than $10 million in damage to roads and public infrastructure. The request is for federal assistance to help local governments recover from the disaster, including Buffalo, Crawford, Grant, Iowa, Jackson, La Crosse, Lafayette, Monroe, Richland, Trempealeau and Vernon counties.
“Many roads were damaged and numerous culverts washed out when flash floods hit the region last month,” said Governor Walker. “I’m hopeful the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will approve much-needed disaster assistance to help these communities recover.”
Last week, FEMA, Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and Wisconsin Emergency Management conducted damage assessments across the impacted areas with local officials.
Severe storms moved across western Wisconsin from July 19-23, 2017. The heavy rains caused flash flooding and several rivers to rise to major flood stage. FEMA damage assessments conducted last week showed more than $10 million in damage to public infrastructure, emergency protective measures, and debris removal costs in the 11 impacted counties.
If approved, FEMA’s Public Assistance Program would help communities recover some of the costs incurred through responding to the floods, protecting citizens, removing debris, and repairing roads and other infrastructure. FEMA provides 75 percent of eligible costs. The State of Wisconsin and local communities impacted share the remaining 25 percent. The program is not for businesses or homeowners as the level of damage in these areas, unfortunately, does not currently meet requirements for federal relief.
