FEMA Denies Additional Aid to Wisconsin, Michigan

FEMA denied requests for additional federal public-assistance funding for communities hit by August’s severe storms and flooding in six eastern Wisconsin counties, even though joint assessments found more than $26.5 million in eligible public infrastructure damage; Gov. Tony Evers said he will appeal. FEMA has previously approved individual assistance for some counties but said the Public Assistance program was “not warranted” based on Preliminary Damage Assessments, and Hazard Mitigation funding decisions remain under review. Separately, FEMA denied Michigan’s appeal for expanded aid after a late‑March ice storm, rejecting Public Assistance Category F (permanent utility repairs) and Individual Assistance while leaving Hazard Mitigation under review. The Michigan denials threaten long‑term recovery for rural electric cooperatives — Great Lakes Energy reported more than $155 million in damage and warned of potential rate increases — and officials in both states called the decisions disappointing and pledged to continue appeals.