Trump approves Wisconsin FEMA funding as critics question delay
CBS 58 WISCONSIN (CBS 58) — Residents in Menasha are still recovering from a tornado back in July, and now they are expected to get some relief from the federal government.
Several parts of the state have been impacted by severe weather this year. President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that nearly $18 million will be released in FEMA funds, but some have criticized the timeline.
The president made the announcement on Truth Social, saying in part, “I told Tom that I will be approving seventeen point nine million dollars for severe storms and tornadoes that Wisconsin has experienced.”
Gov. Tony Evers requested funding back in August. He posted on X in response, saying Wisconsinites will believe it when they see it.
“It shouldn’t matter whether you are a red state or a blue state or who you are voting for. FEMA was created to actually give the resources to communities who have been impacted by extreme weather, and I remember having to apply for these types of dollars as well and continuously fighting with the Trump administration,” Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Crowley said.
Tom Tiffany reacted to the announcement in a statement, saying:
“Securing federal aid for the severe storms that devastated communities across Wisconsin, particularly in the Fox Valley, has been a top priority of mine. I have been in regular contact with the administration, and today, President Trump called to let me know that roughly $18 million in aid for Wisconsin has been approved. I appreciate the administration responding to Wisconsin’s needs. Wisconsin is strong, our people are resilient, and I will work with anyone to make sure our communities have everything they need to recover and rebuild.”
We reached out to the mayor of Menasha for comment on the announcement but did not receive a response. The city sent out a statement following the announcement of the funding, saying the following and including a quote from the mayor:
“The City of Menasha is aware of President Donald Trump’s announcement today approving $17.9 million in federal disaster assistance related to the severe storms and tornadoes that impacted Wisconsin in July.
“While today’s announcement is an encouraging development in the recovery process, the City is still waiting for additional information from Wisconsin Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency regarding the assistance, including what programs may be included, eligibility requirements, and how funding may be distributed.
“‘We are encouraged to see the federal disaster assistance process moving forward, and we appreciate the continued attention being given to the communities impacted by the July storms,’ said Menasha Mayor Austin Hammond. ‘We also know our residents are going to have a lot of questions about what this announcement means for them. We will continue working with our state and federal partners and share those details of the recently announced federal disaster assistance as soon as they are confirmed.’
“The City of Menasha continues to work with Wisconsin Emergency Management, FEMA, Winnebago County Emergency Management, and regional partners as the community moves from immediate response into long-term recovery.
“Additional information will be shared with residents as it becomes available and is confirmed by state and federal officials.”
The White House told CBS News that the decision to release the funding was not political.
According to FEMA, disaster survivors in Forest, Outagamie, Vilas and Winnebago counties have two ways they can apply right now for FEMA assistance. The agency recommends that survivors who haven't already done so file an insurance claim first. If their policy does not cover all of their disaster-related expenses, they may be eligible for federal assistance.
The fastest way for homeowners or renters to apply for FEMA assistance is through DisasterAssistance.gov or the Spanish-language DisasterAssistance.gov/es. The agency says you may also call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362 for assistance in multiple languages.
FEMA assistance may be available for homeowners and renters who were impacted by the disaster. This can include help with temporary housing if you're displaced, assistance for urgent needs, basic home repairs, replacement of lost personal belongings and other disaster-related expenses that aren't covered by insurance.
FEMA says additional information will be released in the coming days for local, county and state governments, as well as eligible nonprofits, on how to apply for FEMA's Public Assistance program. The application process for government agencies and nonprofits is different from the assistance available to individual residents.
More information about the Individual Assistance program, including process and eligibility questions, can be found here.
