MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers is asking the U.S. Small Business Administration to issue a rapid disaster declaration for Winnebago County following severe storms and flooding on July 27.
The storms included at least one confirmed EF-3 tornado in northeastern Wisconsin, along with high winds, hail, power outages and disruptions to public water systems. Winnebago, Forest, Outagamie and Vilas counties reported widespread damage.
The request follows joint damage assessments conducted by the SBA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Wisconsin Emergency Management and local officials.
Assessments of more than 2,346 residential properties found that homeowners and renters in Winnebago County could need more than $8.2 million in assistance. Public-sector damage assessments estimated more than $13.8 million in additional needs.
“The folks in Winnebago County have shown up for one another and persevered in the months since the July storms, but we know that goodwill, volunteers, and hard work alone won’t fix the destruction caused,” Evers said.
If approved, SBA disaster loans would be available to eligible homeowners, renters, businesses and nonprofit organizations in Winnebago County.
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