MADISON – President Donald Trump has approved sending federal funding to Wisconsin to help homeowners and local officials recover from historic flooding in August.
Trump said in a post on his social media platform Truth Social he is approving $29.8 million in federal relief dollars. “We had Huge Victories in Wisconsin in 2016, 2020, and 2024, and it is my Honor to deliver BIG for Wisconsinites!” Trump said. Trump won the presidential election in 2016 and 2024. Former President Joe Biden won in 2020.
The news of Trump’s approval was delivered to U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, Trump said. A spokeswoman for Gov. Tony Evers said the administration had not received any official word on the approval as of Thursday afternoon. “Thank you to President Trump for continuing to deliver BIG TIME for Wisconsinites,” Johnson said in a post on X.
Homeowners may be reimbursed for costs associated with flood damage now that federal relief has been approved, according to Milwaukee County officials. The county will also be able to seek reimbursement for public damage, Milwaukee County Strategy Director Isaac Rowlett said. The county plans to stand up disaster recovery centers where people can file claims with and speak with Federal Emergency Management Agency representatives.
More: Will FEMA help with disaster assistance after Wisconsin floods? What to know.
As of Aug. 29, $52 million worth of damage had been identified just in Milwaukee County, according to the county’s Office of Emergency Management.
The flooding left at least two people dead, while tens of thousands were without power, and there was widespread sewage contamination and major disruptions to roads, schools, businesses and utilities. Much of this damage was concentrated in northwest Milwaukee and in multiple municipalities around the city of Milwaukee, including Bayside, Brown Deer, Glendale, West Milwaukee and Wauwatosa.
Claudia Levens contributed to this report.
Molly Beck can be reached at molly.beck@jrn.com.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: FEMA relief approved by President Trump for Milwaukee flooding