Walker seeks federal disaster declaration for July 11 storm

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker Wednesday sent a letter to President Barack Obama requesting a federal disaster declaration for nine northern Wisconsin counties affected by July 11-12 torrential rains and flash floods.

In the letter, Walker said the storm caused more than $25 million in damage to roads and public infrastructure.  The request is for federal assistance to help local governments recover from the disaster. 

The Bad River Indian reservation is also included in the request.

“Three weeks ago, flash floods devastated Saxon Harbor in Iron County, damaged and forced the closure of hundreds of roads across the northwest, and flooded numerous homes and businesses,” Walker said.

Saxon Harbor damages have been estimated in excess of $10 million, not including the dozens of boats that were damaged by the flood. It could take years to repair the harbor damages.

Three people died during the storm — in Iron, Ashland and Bayfield counties — and a fourth death occurred a few days later when a woman drove into a 50-foot deep wash-out in Bayfield County.

“Local and tribal officials are working hard to repair the damage, but the financial impact is a huge burden on many of these towns, villages and counties. I’m hopeful the Federal Emergency Management Agency will approve much-needed disaster assistance to help these communities recover,” Walker said.

The request is for Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Florence, Iron, Price, Sawyer and Washburn counties, and the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

Last week, FEMA, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Wisconsin Emergency Management conducted damage assessments with local and tribal officials. 

The Public Assistance Program would help communities recover some costs incurred through fighting the floods, protecting citizens, removing debris and repairing roads and other infrastructure.

Iron County Board of Supervisors Chair Joe Pinardi, of Hurley, said Wednesday an assessment last week showed the county met the the FEMA threshold of $8 million with $14 million in damages that would qualify for FEMA disaster funding.

“The program is not for businesses or homeowners, as the level of damage in these areas, unfortunately, does not currently meet requirements for federal relief,” Walker said in a statement.

If the federal declaration is approved, FEMA would provide 75 percent of eligible costs. The state and local communities would share the remaining 25 percent. 

Walker said he again will visit the area on Friday to encourage summer tourists to continue to visit northern Wisconsin.

Walker also made July 12 and July 25 visits to the area, viewing the damage at Saxon Harbor and elsewhere. He met in Hurley, Ashland and Hayward with county and local officials.

Pinardi said access to the harbor via Wisconsin 122 might be restored by the middle of this month or earlier as work is continuing at a brisk pace on repairing the huge County Trunk A wash-out on Parkers Creek.

The plan is to then set up a temporary bridge over the wash-out on Oronto Creek at the harbor.

The only access to the harbor since the storm has been by Harbor Drive, a gravel road that extends from Gurney.

Pinardi noted state funding is available for some road repair costs.