FEMA Awards $4.4 Million Grant to Jefferson County
11/17/2009
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) today released $4,483,460 in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds to
Jefferson County, Wisc., for the acquisition and removal of 28 residential structures and one
commercial structure.
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Are you ready for a natural disaster?
9/24/2009
A popular saying in Wisconsin is that if you don't like the weather, wait a few minutes and it will change. But sometimes Wisconsin weather only allows a few minutes to seek safety. "Most people think they won't be impacted by a natural disaster," said Lori Getter, crisis communications manager for Wisconsin Emergency Management. However, Wisconsin averages 21 tornados each year, and also 20 severe blizzards. Additionally, each county in the state has experienced at least one major flood event in the past 20 years.
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Are you ready for a moment's notice?
9/16/2009
Early on a March morning in 1996, the small city of Weyauwega was jolted awake by a train
derailment. The hazardous cargo, including liquefied petroleum gas, propane and sodium
hydroxide, caught fire and burned for more than two weeks, requiring the emergency evacuation
of about 2,300 people - including the 1,700 residents of Weyauwega - for 16 days.
Jim Baehnman, Weyauwega fire chief, called that accident "the safest disaster in American
history," in large part because there were no injuries or deaths resulting from the derailment or
evacuation. Still, if such an event were to happen today, he would do some things differently.
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Governor Doyle Names Edward Wall Administrator of Wisconsin Emergency Management
9/10/2009
Governor Jim Doyle has named Edward Wall Administrator of Wisconsin Emergency Management. Wall has spent his
entire professional career working in public emergency services, including more than two decades in law
enforcement. Wall earned a Bachelors of Science Degree in Management from Excelsior University.
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Wisconsin's Rock County Receives $786,934 FEMA Grant
8/26/2009
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) today released $786,934 in Hazard Mitigation Grant
Program (HMGP) funds to Rock County, Wisc., for the acquisition and removal of five
structures repeatedly damaged by flooding events.
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Deadline Friday to Visit SBA Disaster Assistance Center
7/30/2009
The SBA has been staffing two disaster assistance centers in Racine and Kenosha Counties. Staff at
the centers can help answer questions and assist in filling out disaster loan applications. Earlier
this month, the SBA approved a request from Governor Jim Doyle to offer low interest disaster loans
to residents in Kenosha, Racine, Milwaukee, Walworth and Waukesha Counties that may have sustained
flood damage from June 18-19, 2009.
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SITUATION REPORT ON SEVERE WEATHER
7/24/2009
A series of severe thunderstorms moved across southwestern
Wisconsin this evening, resulting in heavy rains, flash flooding, large hail, wind damage and downed
power lines. The main impacted areas were Grant, Lafayette and Crawford Counties.
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SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to Wisconsin Residents Affected By Severe Storms and Flooding
7/17/2009
Wisconsin residents and businesses affected by severe storms and flooding that
occurred on June 18-19 can apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business
Administration, SBA Administrator Karen Mills announced today. Administrator Mills made the loans available in response to a letter from Governor Jim Doyle on
July 9, 2009, requesting a disaster declaration by the SBA. The declaration covers Kenosha and
Racine counties and the adjacent counties of Milwaukee, Walworth, Waukesha in Wisconsin.
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FEMA Awards $1.9 Million Hazard Mitigation Grant to the City of Reedsburg
7/17/2009
The U.S Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today
released $1,952,078 in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds to the city of Reedsburg, Wisconsin,
for the acquisition and removal of 20 structures.
HMGP funds will be used to remove these homes from a flood-prone area, returning the area to open
space in perpetuity. HMGP projects like this one are the cornerstone of disaster prevention efforts,
and illustrate the importance of local, state and federal governments working together for the benefit
of citizens.
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Governor Doyle Announces Assistance for Flood Victims in Southeast Wisconsin
7/16/2009
Governor Doyle today announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved his request for federal low-interest disaster loans for individuals and businesses impacted by the flooding that occurred last month in Kenosha and Racine Counties. Last week, Governor Doyle formally requested the
federal disaster aid.Assistance in the form of low interest loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or
replace damaged or destroyed homes. Homeowners and renters are eligible up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property. Low interest loans are also available to businesses that sustained damage from the flooding as well as economic loss.
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Governor Doyle Requests Disaster Assistance for Flooding in Kenosha and Racine Counties
7/10/2009
Governor Jim Doyle today requested disaster assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration
(SBA) for victims from last months flooding in Kenosha and Racine Counties. If approved, the SBA
would provide federal low-interest loans to individuals and businesses that suffered damage.
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Governor Doyle Announces Retirement of Johnnie Smith
7/9/2009
Governor Jim Doyle today announced the retirement of Wisconsin Emergency Management
Administrator Johnnie Smith. Smith, of Sun Prairie, led the Wisconsin Division of Emergency
Management since October 2004. His retirement is effective July 29, 2009. Brig. Gen. Don
Dunbar, Adjutant General of Wisconsin, has announced that WEM's Deputy Administrator Steve
Peterson will serve as Acting Administrator.
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Governor Doyle Requests Damage Assessment
7/1/2009
Governor Jim Doyle today requested the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) assess flood damaged homes and businesses in southeastern Wisconsin following heavy rains that occurred in June. This assessment would be the first step to determine if there is enough damage to qualify for low-interest loans.
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Wisconsin Guard assists in national emergency response exercise
6/18/2009
Wisconsin National Guard Soldiers and Airmen hosted approximately 600
U.S. Army Reserve soldiers at the 128th Air Refueling Wing here for the 2009 Red Dragon
Exercise, which began June 13 and ends June 27.
Wisconsin National Guard support for the exercise came from the Milwaukee-based 157th
Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, and airmen from Madison’s 115th Fighter Wing as well as
Milwaukee’s 128th Air Refueling Wing. The Wisconsin National Guard’s Joint Staff
coordinated the Guard’s role in the exercise.
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FEMA Chief, Northcom General Cite Military's Hurricane Response Role
6/8/2009
The National Guard is essential to hurricane response, the head of the Federal Emergency Management
Agency told lawmakers here last week. W. Craig Fugate, FEMA administrator, and Army Maj. Gen.
Frank Grass, U.S. Northern Command's director of operations, testified June 4 before an ad hoc
disaster-response subcommittee of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
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Overview of the 2008 Wisconsin Flooding/Tornadoes
6/5/2009
Several media outlets have requested information from last year’s flooding/tornadoes that hit
Wisconsin in June. Below are some highlights from Wisconsin Emergency Management, Federal
Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Small Business Administration, and State Emergency
Operations Center.
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Wisconsin’s Heat Awareness Day – June 11, 2009
6/3/2009
Gov. Jim Doyle has proclaimed June 11, 2009 as Heat Awareness Day in
Wisconsin. The campaign is to remind people of the dangers associated with extreme heat and
to encourage citizens to take protective safety measures.
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Confirmed Case of H1N1 in Monroe County (as released by the Monroe County Health Department)
6/1/2009
The first confirmed case of (novel or swine like to distinguish from seasonal H1N1) H1N1 in Monroe
County was reported to Monroe County Health Department officials on May 31, 2009. Sharon Nelson,
Director/Health Officer, reports that a young male from the Wisconsin National Guard Challenge
Academy in Monroe County was recently hospitalized and released from the hospital and is now
recovering from H1N1.
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Wisconsin’s Town of Spring Green receives $4-million FEMA grant
5/29/2009
The U.S Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today released $4,033,218 in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds to the town of Spring Green, Wisconsin, for the acquisition and removal of 28 structures.
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Governor Doyle Proclaims June 11 as Heat Awareness Day
5/26/2009
Governor Jim Doyle has proclaimed June 11, 2009 as Heat Awareness Day. Summer heat
waves are the biggest weather-related killers in Wisconsin for the past 50 years, far exceeding
tornado and other storm-related deaths.
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NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards
5/6/2009
Governor Doyle has declared May 13, 2009 as NOAA Weather Radio All
Hazards Awareness Day. The campaign is to encourage Wisconsin residents to keep ahead of
severe weather by tuning in to NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards, a 24-hour source of weather
forecasts, watches, warnings, and non-weather emergency information provided by the National
Weather Service and its parent agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA).
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Tornado & Severe Weather Awareness Week
4/13/2009
Gov. Jim Doyle has proclaimed April 20-24, 2009 as Tornado and Severe
Weather Awareness Week in Wisconsin. The campaign is to remind people of the dangers
associated with tornadoes, thunderstorms, flooding and hail and to encourage citizens to take
protective safety measures.
Last year, 38 tornadoes in Wisconsin were confirmed by the National Weather Services
(NWS), including a rare twister in January in southeast Wisconsin. On January 7, 2008, two
tornadoes touched down in Kenosha County. Officials estimated that nearly 100 homes and
buildings were destroyed or damaged.
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