President Donald Trump has approved a sizable sum of $29.8 million in federal disaster relief for Wisconsin, specifically targeting the recovery efforts following devastating floods in August. "I just informed Senator Ron Johnson that, based on his request, I am approving $29.8 Million Dollars for the wonderful State of Wisconsin to help them recover from the major storms and flooding they experienced in August," Trump stated on Truth Social, as was reported by FOX6Now.
The move by Trump, who won Wisconsin's electoral votes in 2016 and 2024 but lost in 2020, comes after Governor Tony Evers requested federal assistance due to the severe weather that hit the state. Damage assessments, revealing the extent of the destruction, were conducted by Wisconsin Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Meanwhile, Milwaukee County officials have detailed plans for setting up disaster recovery centers for residents to file claims, as reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Having estimated the damage to residential structures at approximately $33.1 million, Trump's relief fund fails short by a few million, while public sector damage across six counties was assessed at $43.2 million.
Trump's announcement was met with gratitude by Senator Ron Johnson, who took to an unnamed social media platform to express his thanks to the president for "continuing to deliver BIG TIME for Wisconsinites". The approved aid will provide much-needed support for homeowners to be reimbursed for costs associated with flood damage and will also assist the county in seeking reimbursement for public damage, as Isaac Rowlett, Milwaukee County Strategy Director, mentioned in discussions according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
There remains an undisclosed portion of Governor Evers' request that is yet to be approved. "I want to again thank the volunteers, organizations, and communities who are helping our neighbors, friends, and families recover, but our work is not done. I will continue to urge the Trump Administration to approve the remainder of my request," Evers said in a late Thursday press release, which was picked up by WISN. The timeline for when affected homeowners can start applying for aid remains uncertain, although a declaration on a deadline by FEMA is expected.
