| MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers on Friday signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency for Outagamie, Calumet, Waupaca, and Winnebago counties as communities continue to recover from flooding last week. “Communities in Northeastern Wisconsin are still recovering from abrupt flooding that endangered lives and damaged infrastructure,” said Gov. Evers in a news release. “We’re working to ensure folks and communities have the support the state can make available to help rebuild, restore, and recover quickly by getting relief to those impacted.” The governor’s declaration comes after heavy rainfall in Northeastern Wisconsin caused flooding in several counties, forcing some residents to evacuate on July 5 in the cities of Appleton and Manawa. The high rain amounts also led to a dam embankment breach in Manawa. During this time, the National Weather Service said four to six inches of rain fell in Waupaca County, with 5.7 inches of rain falling in Manawa. Roughly one to four inches of rain fell across parts of Outagamie and Calumet counties. Wisconsin Emergency Management, a division of the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs, has been working with counties to assess damage and determine resources needed to speed recovery efforts. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is also monitoring the situation and working with nursing homes to ensure residents and staff stay safe and healthy. The governor’s declaration allows DHS to pay for extraordinary expenses that can arise when a facility is evacuated, like a portion of the cost of temporary housing or emergency nursing home repairs. |
