FEMA urging Wisconsin residents to invest in flood insurance after 2018 floods

One year after historic flooding devastated communities across Southern Wisconsin, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is property owners and renters to get flood insurance to protect their homes.

In 2018, some areas saw more than a foot of rain within a few hours. The state received its first Presidential disaster declaration in a decade.

According to FEMA and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), Most homeowners and renters insurance policies do not cover flood damage and flood insurance policies don’t automatically renew. The agencies state once a homeowner applies for a flood insurance policy, it takes up to 30 days to go into effect.

According to FEMA, in 2018, 2,039 Individual Assistance Grants were given to people to help make repairs to their homes or replace items such as furnaces and hot water heaters. People worked directly with FEMA to receive one of these grants.

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2018 Approved FEMA Individual Assistance Grants

People called to register with FEMA after last year's flooding. FEMA determined who was eligible and the amount of awarded. It is for individuals not businesses. It is not designed to replace personal items lost. It helps people make home repairs or replace items such as furnaces and hot water heaters.

Total

2,039 approved applications
Total dollars: $8,869,280.75

Crawford County

47 approved applications
$302,933.83

Dane County

929 approved applications
Total approved: $3,821,380.36

Juneau County

292 approved applications
Total approved: $811,221.18

La Crosse County

43 approved applications
Total approved: $152,993.15

Marquette County

61 approved applications
Total approved: $203,591.39

Monroe County

194 approved applications
Total approved: $964,894.13

Richland County

36 approved applications
Total approved: $229,194.21

Sauk County

171 approved applications
Total approved: $583,906.31

Vernon County

266 approved applications
Total approved: $1,799,166.19

Public Assistance Grants To-Date

These grants help local governments with repairs to roads and bridges and emergency protective measures. The funding is obligated and when the project is finished and paperwork completed, municipalities receive payment. FEMA provides 75% of eligible costs. The state provides 12.5% and the local responsibility is 12.5%

Total