Waukesha County, WI

FEMA aid rejection: Local governments outside Milwaukee also denied flood relief

• Federal Disaster Aid Denial: Muskego officials learned they will not qualify for federal disaster aid after August's flooding, which affected southeastern Wisconsin. Despite road damages, including a washed-out Gold Drive, FEMA rejected Wisconsin's request for public property repair assistance.

• Local Government Response: Waukesha County experienced over $2.5 million in damage to infrastructure. The county plans to cover repair costs, such as a $300,000 allocation for county property, by delaying minor projects.

• Political Considerations: Gov. Tony Evers questioned whether the FEMA rejection had political motivations, noting recent approvals for states with Republican leadership. Evers intends to appeal the denial, aiming to use the Wisconsin Disaster Fund as necessary.

• Fiscal Impact on Muskego: Mayor Petfalski stated Muskego can rebuild Gold Drive without affecting the 2026 budget, but future projects may be impacted. He believes federal aid should have been granted based on historical precedents of FEMA funding.