Gov. Evers Requests Disaster Declaration From President Trump to Assist With Recovery Efforts After Destructive April Storms and Flooding
Governor’s request comes as Wisconsin Emergency Management and FEMA joint preliminary damage assessment determines more than $27 million in damages
MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today announced he has formally requested a disaster declaration from President Donald J. Trump in response to severe storms and flooding in April that caused widespread destruction throughout the state of Wisconsin. Gov. Evers’ request includes the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Individual Assistance for affected residents and families in 19 counties and one Tribal Nation, FEMA’s Public Assistance for emergency work and infrastructure repairs in 14 counties and one Tribal Nation, and FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to help reduce the impact of future disasters for the entire state.
The governor’s request comes as, in April, he announced his request for FEMA to assist the state in conducting joint preliminary damage assessments. After assessments of more than 1,570 residential properties, Wisconsin Emergency Management (WEM) and FEMA determined that the total damage costs of those properties were estimated at more than $9.8 million. The joint preliminary damage assessment for Public Assistance found more than $17.6 million in public sector damage.
“I’ve visited communities impacted by this spring’s severe weather, and in doing so, I’ve not only seen the devastation and destruction these storms left behind but also the strength and resilience of Wisconsinites across the state,” said Gov. Evers. “I’m grateful Wisconsin Emergency Management and FEMA’s work identified and confirmed our need for federal assistance so that we can continue to rebuild homes, restore infrastructure, and aid recovery efforts. Federal support is essential to helping communities rebuild and recover, and I’m urging the president to meet this moment with the urgency it requires and ensure affected individuals, families, and businesses receive this critical assistance as quickly as possible.”
This request includes the following counties for FEMA’s Individual Assistance program: Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Manitowoc, Marathon, Milwaukee, Outagamie, Racine, Rock, Sauk, Vernon, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, and Winnebago counties. The Oneida Nation is also included in this request.
The following counties were requested to receive eligible funding through FEMA’s Public Assistance program: Bayfield, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kewanee, Manitowoc, Marathon, Outagamie, Racine, Rock, Sauk, Vernon, and Waupaca counties. The Oneida Nation is included in this request as well.
The governor’s latest request for federal support for Wisconsin comes as President Trump and his administration have still failed to justify their denial of federal Public Assistance to help communities respond to and recover from similar severe weather and flooding that occurred across the state last summer, causing over $27 million in damages to roads, public buildings, utilities, and community infrastructure despite the governor’s multiple attempts imploring the Trump Administration to reverse its decision. That’s why, following last month’s severe weather, Gov. Evers sent a letter to members of Wisconsin’s Congressional delegation, urging lawmakers to stand up for Wisconsin communities, underscoring that public and persistent efforts to help advocate for Wisconsin to receive assistance from federal partners, including President Trump, will be key to securing the disaster aid needed.
Notably, Gov. Evers’ request comes as recent reporting indicates that it is three times harder for Democratic-led states to get disaster funding under the Trump Administration than Republican-led states, with the Trump Administration rejecting disaster aid for Democratic-led states at the highest rate in the history of FEMA.
The joint preliminary damage assessments did not need to review damage at every home in the affected counties. These assessments provided a snapshot of the damage caused by the storm. It is important to note that FEMA does not rely on fixed monetary or numerical thresholds as the sole determining factor for recommending a disaster declaration. Instead, the agency evaluates a wide range of factors to assess the severity and magnitude of the event and its impact on the affected communities. The ultimate decision to approve or deny the request will rest with the president. There is no strict legal timeline for a response to a state’s request for federal assistance.
If homeowners were not present or not visited during field assessments, their potential assistance eligibility is not affected. If they have not done so, residents should contact their insurance agent to learn if their damage is covered, and if so, by how much. Homeowners should also document their damage by taking photos and saving any receipts for related expenses after this disaster. These expenses could include temporary housing, hotel stays, repairs for flood damage to the home, and appliance replacement.
If a potential federal disaster declaration is declared, all updates and information will be communicated promptly through official state and local channels to keep the public and stakeholders informed through the process.
A copy of Gov. Evers’ presidential disaster declaration request letter can be found on Gov. Evers’ website.
More information about the disaster declaration process is available on FEMA’s website.
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.
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Gov. Evers Requests Disaster Declaration From President Trump to Assist With Recovery Efforts After Destructive April Storms and Flooding
May 22nd, 2026 by Gov. Tony EversGovernor’s request comes as Wisconsin Emergency Management and FEMA joint preliminary damage assessment determines more than $27 million in damages
