Wisconsin Emergency Management Release – One Month Left to Apply for FEMA Assistance After August Flooding

MADISON, Wis. – Individuals and households impacted by flooding in southeastern Wisconsin have one month remaining to apply for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance. Those impacted by the disaster are urged to apply by Nov. 12, 2025.

“Federal assistance can be a critical lifeline for people and families to get the help they need during the recovery process,” said Wisconsin Emergency Management Administrator Greg Engle. “We encourage everyone affected by this disaster to apply as soon as possible and not wait until the last minute.”

Within one month of the disaster, nearly $83.3 million is now in the hands of 15,093 flood survivors. If you are eligible for FEMA’s Individual Assistance Program in Milwaukee, Washington or Waukesha counties, there are three ways to apply. The fastest way to apply is online at DisasterAssistance.gov. Flood survivors can also call 1-800-621-3362 or visit a Disaster Recovery Center. To find a center near you, head to fema.gov/drc.

What you need when you apply for assistance

When flood survivors apply, they should have the following available:

• Your address with zip code
• Condition of your damaged home
• Insurance information, if available
• Social Security number
• Annual household income
• Phone number where you can be contacted
• Address where you can get mail
• Email address to receive electronic notifications

After applying, people can expect a call or text from a FEMA inspector to set up a time and date to perform an inspection. This typically happens within 10 days after applying for assistance. While that response time can vary, be sure to respond to move your application forward. A FEMA inspector carries an official photo ID and will never ask for bank information or charge a fee for inspection. If you are unsure whether a visit or call is legitimate, contact the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 to verify.

Typically, within 10 days of the home inspections, disaster survivors will receive a decision letter from FEMA on your application. People can check on the status of their FEMA application at any time on their DisasterAssistance.gov account by clicking on the status tab after logging in. You can also call 1-800-621-3362 to check your application status.

If flood survivors disagree with FEMA’s decision, they have 60 days from the FEMA decision letter date to appeal. For more information on how to appeal FEMA’s decision head to http://www.fema.gov/appeal.

U.S. Small Business Administration deadline also approaching

Homeowners and renters in Milwaukee, Washington or Waukesha counties affected by August floods can also apply for home and personal property including automobiles loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The deadline to apply for an SBA loan for homeowners and renters for physical damage is Nov. 10, 2025.

The SBA also provides physical disaster and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (Working Capital). Businesses in Milwaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties are eligible to apply for these loans until Nov. 10, 2025. Applications for Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available to Dodge, Fond du Lac, Jefferson, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington, and Waukesha counties through June 11, 2026.

More information on the SBA loans available for Wisconsin homeowners, renters, and business owners can be found at https://www.sba.gov/disaster

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.