Governor Tony Evers asked the United States Small Business Administration on Monday to declare a Rapid Disaster Declaration for Wisconsin communities hit by severe storms and flooding this spring.
The governor requested disaster assistance for Marathon, Rock, Vernon and Waupaca counties based on damage assessments. If approved, federal disaster loans from the SBA will be available for residents and businesses in those four counties, as well as their contiguous 20 counties.
Joint damage assessments were conducted by SBA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, state, county and local staff.
“As severe weather continues to affect communities across Wisconsin, my administration and I are hard at work to ensure communities and small businesses have every opportunity to get the support they need, and to make sure the state prepares for and responds to any potential emergencies in the future,” Evers said.
Governor Evers last month formally requested a disaster declaration from President Donald Trump in response to April’s severe storms and flooding. That request includes FEMA’s 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. President Trump has not responded, and a declaration has not been made.