Wisconsin communities along the Wolf River are recovering from the April storm that damaged or destroyed homes, businesses, and personal belongings.
Gov. Tony Evers is hoping that this time, unlike after last year’s major flooding, the Trump administration will be willing to come through with federal assistance.
Evers sent a request for aid to President Trump when flooding in southeast Wisconsin caused more than $27 million in damages in 2025. The request was denied without explanation. This time, Gov. Evers sent a letter to members of Wisconsin’s Congressional delegation, asking lawmakers to stand up for Wisconsin communities.
Throughout the crisis, local communities and people across the area coordinated their efforts to help their neighbors. Social media was an effective tool for state and local governments to relay up-to-date vital information on weather warnings, flood conditions, area shelters, and assistance needs. New information continues to be added daily.
The long, hard work continues as residents clean up, salvage what they can, and rebuild, all the while trying to deal with the daunting, often frustrating task of seeking assistance from insurance companies.
After visiting the area, Governor Evers declared a state of emergency on April 15. “I have seen firsthand the devastation caused by our April storms and the uncertainty that is impacting families, communities, and local governments across Wisconsin,” said Evers.
Photos by Richard Montano
Wisconsin Emergency Management (WEM) reported that the level of damage caused by the storm is beyond the state’s ability to recover on its own. Subsequently, Evers submitted a request for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to conduct a formal federal preliminary damage assessment.
The formal joint preliminary damage assessment (PDA) is a crucial step towards Wisconsin submitting a formal disaster declaration request to President Trump. A major disaster declaration must be approved by the president and determines which, if any, types of federal assistance will be provided.
Recent reporting indicates that it has been three times harder for blue states to get disaster funding under the Trump Administration, with requests from Democratic-led states being rejected at the highest rate in the history of FEMA.
“We need FEMA’s support in this process to begin and continue to support our communities during the long process of recovery,” Evers said. “This is more than just rebuilding structures lost or damaged by tornadoes and flooding; it’s about restoring hope and stability to everyone affected.”
