Minor flooding still remains in Shiocton, April 22, 2026. PC: Fox 11 Online
(WTAQ-WLUK) — Governor Tony Evers has directed Wisconsin Emergency Management (WEM) to submit a request for FEMA to respond to April’s historic flood damage in the state.
The request is the first step in getting federal assistance to help communities recover.
WEM says its initial damage assessments indicate that the level of damage caused by the recent severe weather is beyond the state’s ability to recover on its own and is expected to qualify for federal assistance.
Once the request is submitted, FEMA will work with both the state and local government to conduct a thorough assessment of the impacted areas to determine the extent of the disaster, the impact on individual homeowners and renters as well as public facilities, and the types of federal assistance that may be needed.
To expedite the process, FEMA will review much of the damage information virtually and conduct on-site damage assessments only as needed. Dates and locations where FEMA will conduct on-site assessments have not yet been determined.
Once the preliminary damage assessment is completed, the next step would be for Gov. Evers to submit a formal request for a major disaster declaration. A major disaster declaration must be approved by the president and determines which, if any, types of federal assistance will be provided. Additional information on how the disaster declaration process works can be found on FEMA’s website.
Gov. Evers declared a state of emergency on April 15 due to the severe storms, and that same day, the governor traveled to Union Center in Juneau County to see firsthand some of the damage caused. As storms continued throughout the rest of the week and weekend, Gov. Evers visited several more communities impacted by the storm damage, including Janesville, Shiocton, and Ringle, which experienced considerable destruction due to an EF3 tornado. Additionally, the Evers Administration and WEM have fulfilled requests for state aid and assistance from local county emergency management, including making National Guard resources available.
Last summer, Gov. Evers requested a presidential disaster declaration for severe storm and flood damage throughout the state.
FEMA later denied a federal disaster request for Door County and five other Wisconsin counties but President Trump approved nearly $30 million in funding to help Milwaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties rebuild after flooding.
The Evers Administration, including WEM, continues to work with local and Tribal emergency management offices across the state to assess damage and provide resources needed to speed recovery efforts. Wisconsinites are also encouraged to report storm and flooding damage by calling 2-1-1 or online at 211 Wisconsin’s disaster report page. Additional information from WEM regarding storm damage response is attached in this FAQ.
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