Gov. Tony Evers
Press Release

Gov. Evers Declares Period of Economic Disruption for Four Counties Due to Devastating Storms

Outagamie, Winnebago, Forest, and Vilas Counties under a period of abnormal economic disruption due to last month’s storms, governor prohibits price gouging on everyday essentials and lodging

By - Aug 7th, 2026 02:58 pm

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today signed Executive Order #303 declaring a period of abnormal economic disruption in Outagamie, Winnebago, Forest, and Vilas Counties due to the devastating storms that swept through Eastern Wisconsin last month. This follows the governor’s Executive Order #300, declaring a state of emergency after those storms produced an EF3 tornado, with damage in the Menasha/Appleton area, along with high winds, hail, power outages, and disruptions to public water systems, causing widespread and significant damage. As families and communities continue to rebuild and recover, especially those who are displaced from their homes, Gov. Evers is directing the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) to enforce prohibitions against price gouging on everyday essentials and lodging.

“Folks who’ve just lost their family homes and businesses shouldn’t have to worry about paying outrageous prices for simple necessities like a place to sleep, food to eat, or any other everyday essentials,” said Gov. Evers. “My administration and I continue to work with local leaders in the Fox Cities and surrounding areas as folks and families begin to rebuild their homes, businesses, schools, and communities. For the communities that are struggling, this declaration ensures that our state agencies can use whatever tools at their disposal, including cracking down on price gouging on everyday necessities, to help folks get back on their feet.”

The governor’s order declares that a period of abnormal economic disruption exists in the state of Wisconsin and directs DATCP to begin enforcing prohibitions against price gouging as the severe and widespread damage has caused significant disruptions to daily life in the affected counties, requiring individuals and families to seek repairs on their homes, vehicles, and properties and even forcing some to find temporary housing.

For more consumer protection resources or to file a complaint, visit DATCP’s Consumer Protection webpage at ConsumerProtection.wi.gov or contact the Consumer Protection Hotline at (800) 422-7128 or DATCPHotline@wisconsin.gov. DATCP is also reminding Wisconsinites to practice caution when seeking repairs for their homes and businesses.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

Mentioned in This Press Release

People:

Recent Press Releases by Gov. Tony Evers

Gov. Evers Appeals Trump Administration’s Decision to Deny Federal Disaster Relief, Fights for Communities to Get the Support They Need to Rebuild and Recover

Gov. Evers appeals Trump Administration’s denial of public disaster assistance for Racine County and statewide hazard mitigation relief following severe storms and flooding in April of this year

Leave a Reply

You must be an Urban Milwaukee member to leave a comment. Membership, which includes a host of perks, including an ad-free website, tickets to marquee events like Summerfest, the Wisconsin State Fair and the Florentine Opera, a better photo browser and access to members-only, behind-the-scenes tours, starts at $9/month. Learn more.

Join now and cancel anytime.

If you are an existing member, sign-in to leave a comment.

Have questions? Need to report an error? Contact Us