State, FEMA To Brief Local Governments On Disaster Assistance
Release Date: June 23, 2001
Release Number: 1369-23
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West Salem, WI -- Local government officials and representatives of private non--profit organizations affected by the severe storms, flooding and tornado in June are invited to attend briefings this week to discuss application procedures for assistance under the presidential disaster declaration.
WEM Deputy Director and State Coordinating Officer Alan B. Shanks said, "We encourage local government leaders to attend the applicant briefings so they can understand the programs and the state can quickly begin processing claims."
The briefings will be held in the following locations:
- Wednesday, June 27, 10 a.m., Appleton City Hall, 6th Floor Council Chambers, Appleton, (Calumet, Outagamie and Winnebago Counties)
- Wednesday, June 27, 1 p.m., Wisconsin Rapids, McMillan Memorial Library,
490 E. Grand St., Wisconsin Rapids, WI (Portage, Waushara, Waupaca and Wood Counties)
- Thursday, June 28, 10 a.m., Rusk County Board Room, 311 Miner Ave East, Ladysmith (Rusk County)
- Friday, June 29, 10 a.m., Webster Community Center, Webster, (Barron, Burnett, Polk and Washburn Counties)
On June 21, President George W. Bush granted Gov. McCallum's request to reopen the incident period of the federal disaster declaration of May 11 and approved eight more counties for federal disaster assistance. The additional counties are Winnebago, Outagamie, Calumet, Waupaca, Waushara, Wood, Portage and Rusk.
As a result of this declaration, state and local governments and eligible private, non--profit organizations in those counties may apply for federal aid under the Public Assistance Program and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
Under the Public Assistance Program, eligible disaster work done by local, county and state governments with their own crews or by contract is reimbursable. Approved grants are 75 percent funded under FEMA, 12.5 percent by the State of Wisconsin and the remaining 12.5 percent the applicant's share of the grant.
Information also will be available on the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. This program funds selected projects to reduce losses from future disasters and is available to all Wisconsin counties.
The briefings are for representatives of public entities. The briefings will not address losses incurred by homeowners and businesses.
County board chairs, city mayors, town chairs and clerks should attend the briefings. In addition, representatives of parks, sheriffs, highway departments, watershed districts, publicly owned utilities, public schools, rural electric cooperatives, and any other private, non--profit organizations, that have incurred costs as a result of severe storms and tornado and will be applying for assistance should attend.
Last Modified: Thursday, 23-Oct-2003 10:29:24