MILWAUKEE — The Trump administration is denying over $26 million in federal aid for six Wisconsin counties impacted by August’s historic flooding, said Governor Tony Evers on Friday.
Based on preliminary damage assessments, public assistance for Milwaukee, Waukesha, Washington, Ozaukee, Door and Grant counties is not warranted, according to a letter from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The Public Assistance program provides supplemental grants to state, local, and tribal governments to fix public infrastructure.
“Without this federal assistance, Milwaukee County is left footing the bill to repair an assessed $22 million in public infrastructure,” said Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley.
“Denying federal assistance doesn’t just delay recovery, it sends a message to our communities that they are on their own, and that the Trump Administration doesn’t think over $26 million in damages to public infrastructure is worthy of their help. I couldn’t disagree more,” said Evers.
The governor says he is filing an appeal. Wisconsin has 30 days from the date of the denial letter to send its appeal.
In September, formal preliminary damage assessments were conducted by joint teams including FEMA, Wisconsin Emergency Management (WEM), and local officials, and those assessments validated more than $26.5 million in eligible disaster costs.
Evers is now directing WEM to gather additional information and details on costs the public sector and certain private non-profit organizations incurred due to the August storms.
As for individual assistance, FEMA has distributed over $123 million to Milwaukee County residents.
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson issued the following statement:
“Obviously, we are disappointed with the decision to leave local governments on their own to deal with the consequences of August’s devastating flood.
“In a time when local government budgets are extremely tight, Milwaukee could certainly have deployed disaster funding in a way that mitigated the burden our taxpayers will have to shoulder.
“Milwaukee households and businesses have received federal aid, but that was only part of the costly effects of this disaster. We had hoped the federal government would choose to extend this additional assistance.
“I understand Governor Tony Evers intends to appeal this decision, and he has my full support in that effort.”
