APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Appleton Storm Damage is being evaluated for federal funding.
Local governments are hoping to get some federal money to rebuild.
On Tuesday, Appleton hosted a team from the Federal Emergency Management Administration to get the ball rolling.
Troy Christensen, Media Relations for FEMA says they are looking at the cost of debris removal, damage to public property and overtime costs for those assisting during the storm.
“We’re looking at the overall ability for the state of Wisconsin to recover from this event,” said Christensen.
To do that FEMA spent the day sorting through binders full of receipts and totaling up damage to public property.
Storm-related costs include everything from emergency calls to remove trees tangled up in power lines- to weeks of labor city workers put in to clean up messes all over the county.
“One of the things we’re looking at is the overall cost of the damages and that’s based on the population of the state,” said Christensen.
Damage must total at least $8.5 million for Wisconsin to receive federal money.
“More than that number, we’re looking at the scope of the impact to a lot of these communities,” said Christensen. “Especially smaller counties and some of the more rural areas. So were looking at the overall impact beyond that dollar amount.”
Once FEMA’s done tracking the damage, it will submit a report to Governor Tony Evers. It will then fall to his office to request disaster relief from President Trump.
FEMA will be in Oconto County at the end of the week.
