Federal aid for flood recovery approved

COUNTY – President Trump just approved $22.6 million in federal aid for northeast Wisconsin for the historic flooding that hit communities in this region.
An official press release from FEMA stated: “The President’s action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Manitowoc, Marathon, Milwaukee, Outagamie, Racine, Rock, Sauk, Vernon, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca and Winnebago counties and the Oneida Nation. Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and families recover from the effects of the disaster.”
In this newspaper coverage area, New London, Fremont, Manawa and Shiocton were affected the most.
“This declaration is an important milestone, but it’s also the beginning of the long-term recovery process. We’re grateful that our communities will now have access to these federal resources as they continue rebuilding,” said Zachary Van Asten, Waupaca County’s Emergency Management Director.

How does it work?

A presidential disaster declaration provides financial relief to individuals and families who experienced uninsured or underinsured losses. It also includes FEMA’s Public Assistance Program, which provides financial assistance to local governments and certain eligible nonprofit organizations for disaster-related expenses.
This is separate from the Individual Assistance Program and is designed to help communities recover the costs of responding to and repairing damage caused by the flooding.
“The declaration itself does not mean checks go out immediately. FEMA will now begin implementing the (IA) Individual Assistance program, which includes establishing Disaster Recovery Centers, opening the application process, and working directly with eligible residents. Waupaca County is working closely with Wisconsin Emergency Management and FEMA to coordinate those efforts locally,” said Van Asten.
Residents can apply through FEMA (https://www.disasterassistance.gov/). This aid be used for temporary housing, home repairs, personal property losses, and other disaster-related needs that aren’t covered by insurance.
“Our focus now is making sure residents know what resources are available and helping them navigate the application process. We’ll continue providing updates as additional information becomes available, including Disaster Recovery Center locations, application deadlines, and other recovery resources,” said Van Asten.