WISCONSINREPORT.COM (08/11/2010) - Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle has announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has made a major disaster declaration for Grant and Milwaukee counties. The declaration, authorized by President Barack Obama, makes assistance available to local units of government affected by floods. The assistance will help communities recover some of the costs incurred through fighting the floods, protecting citizens and repairing infrastructure.

“I want to thank the Federal Emergency Management Agency for helping Wisconsin communities recover from these damaging floods,” Governor Doyle said.

“While I am disappointed that the state did not meet the threshold for individual assistance, we will continue to work with affected communities to rebuild from July’s severe storms and flooding,” Governor Doyle said.

On July 31, Governor Doyle formally requested a federal disaster declaration for three southern Wisconsin counties hit hard by storms and flooding, following the completion of FEMA's assessment work which was required before a declaration can be sought. The request was for federal assistance for individuals, families and businesses suffering from severe weather in Grant, Milwaukee and Waukesha counties.

Governor Doyle also requested public assistance for local governments in Grant and Milwaukee counties to help recover some of their flood-related costs.

A series of storms producing torrential rain, hail and strong winds moved through southern Wisconsin beginning on July 22. Flooding was widespread in the Milwaukee area. The next night, several areas of Grant County were hit by flash flooding.

Officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Small Business Administration and Wisconsin Emergency Management conducted damage assessments in conjunction with local officials in the flooded communities, which were submitted to FEMA for review.

The state will not receive emergency FoodShare assistance from the USDA as part of the Emergency Declaration. The Department of Health Services in July provided replacement FoodShare benefits to enrolled families with flood damage. No further FoodShare assistance is available for families affected by flooding.

FEMA and the White House say President Obama declared a major disaster exists in the State of Wisconsin and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding during the period of July 20-24, 2010.

Federal funding is available to State and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding in the counties of Grant and Milwaukee.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

W. Craig Fugate, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Paul J. Ricciuti as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area.

FEMA said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the State and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.