MADISON, Wis — Gov. Tony Evers is asking for federal support to assess damages after severe storms, including an EF-3 tornado tore through parts of the Fox Valley on July 27.
An announcement from the governor’s office on Monday said Evers has instructed Wisconsin Emergency Management to request damage assessments from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA.)
The formal federal preliminary damage assessment is the next step in the process to request disaster aid. FEMA will work with state and local officials to assess the extent of the damage and types of federal assistance that may be needed in Forest, Outagamie, Vilas and Winnebago counties.
After the preliminary damage assessment is completed, Evers can submit a formal disaster declaration request for aid to President Trump.
“While our dedicated local governments, emergency responders, and neighbors have been working countless hours to rebuild their communities, there is a long road to recovery ahead of us,” Evers said in a statement.
The governor’s office said FEMA will review much of the damage information virtually and conduct on-site damage assessments only as needed. Dates and locations where on-site assessments may happen have not yet been determined, and additional counties could still be added to the request for damage assessments.
Earlier this year FEMA denied part of Wisconsin’s request for aid after severe storms and flooding in April. The agency approved aid for Wisconsin residents but denied aid to repair public infrastructure after historic flooding in August 2025.
Evers has also declared a period of economic disruption in affected counties and directed the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to enforce Wisconsin’s price-gouging protections for necessities, including food and temporary lodging.
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