Latest news with #PresidentialMajorDisasterDeclaration
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Baldwin unsure of Trump Administration, Wisconsin's FEMA request
(The Center Square) – Wisconsin's Democratic U.S. senator says she has little doubt that there is enough flood damage around the state to qualify for federal help. But Tuesday she said she has less confidence in President Donald Trump. 'Confident and Trump Administration are not two phrases that I don't necessarily always put in a sentence together,' Baldwin told reporters. 'The president has said very disparaging things about FEMA, before the start of his term. He even talked about abolishing FEMA.' Baldwin said the president has changed his tune. But she also said she wants to 'hold his feet to the fire.' Her comments came just hours after Wisconsin's entire Congressional delegation signed off on a letter to FEMA asking for federal assistance after last week's record flooding. 'On Aug. 9 and 10, historic rainfall caused severe flooding across the Milwaukee region, resulting in widespread damage to homes, businesses, and public infrastructure. The storm produced the second-highest 48-hour rainfall total on record in Milwaukee. Some areas saw more than 14 inches of rain in under 24 hours, overwhelming roads, basements, parking structures, and utility systems,' the letter states. 'The Milwaukee, Menomonee, and Root rivers reached record levels, flooding thousands of properties and prompting emergency crews to respond to hundreds of rescues and infrastructure problems.' Baldwin signed the letter. The letter asks for a Joint Preliminary Damage Assessment to get a sense of the damage. The congressional delegation also said it expects to make a formal request for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration. That would not only open a pipeline for money to flow to the government's impacted by the floods but some of the 13,000 people who saw damage to their homes or businesses. "Federal assistance will be critical to repairing the damage from these severe weather events and supporting the long-term recovery of our communities," the letter states. " Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
FEMA could arrive in Wisconsin this week to begin flood damage assessment, Crowley says
Federal Emergency Management Agency officials could arrive in southeast Wisconsin to assess flood damage as early as Aug. 21, the next step toward receiving federal aid, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley said. FEMA's anticipated arrival to perform a Preliminary Damage Assessment comes as early damage estimates surpass $34 million, Crowley said in a news release. After that assessment, FEMA's regional administrator will make a recommendation on a presidential disaster declaration, which would authorize federal disaster assistance. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reached out to FEMA Region 5, which covers Wisconsin, for additional details on when the agency will arrive. A White House official said, 'The White House is prepared to respond appropriately to any request for Federal assistance.' The same morning Crowley's office shared updates Aug. 19, Wisconsin's entire congressional delegation sent a letter to FEMA urging the agency to conduct a "timely" damage assessment with Wisconsin Emergency Management. "We understand that state officials are actively collecting and compiling detailed damage assessment information to provide to FEMA. We urge FEMA to begin work in partnership with Wisconsin Emergency Management as soon as possible so that this process can move forward without delay," read the letter, signed by each of Wisconsin's Republican and Democratic members of Congress. "We anticipate that the state will promptly submit a formal request for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration following completion of the (Public Damage Assessment)," they wrote. More: Evers tours flooded homes, says he hopes Trump will make a timely decision on FEMA aid Milwaukee's Common Council also called on President Donald Trump to issue a presidential major disaster declaration, calling it "essential for individual aid, infrastructure fixes, and long-term resilience against climate's growing threat to our watershed region." "As front-line representatives engaging directly with residents, we have heard their cries firsthand: The historic flooding of August 9 and 10, 2025, has devastated thousands, leaving families homeless, livelihoods destroyed, and futures uncertain," read the Aug. 18 letter, co-signed by all 15 council members. Between 10 and 13 inches of rain fell in just several hours in parts of southeastern Wisconsin between Aug. 9 and 10. As of Monday, Aug. 18, the Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management, Wisconsin Emergency Management and more than 300 volunteers had completed 3,434 property assessments. About 53% of those inspections were categorized as "destroyed" or having "major damage." FEMA teams will focus on areas with those levels of damage, Crowley said, and emergency management staff will accompany them. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel found that more than 11,500 requests for flood-related services came into the 211 helpline from across Milwaukee County and the surrounding Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington counties between Aug. 10 and the afternoon of Aug. 14. Of that number, roughly 85% of the requests for service came from Milwaukee alone. As of Aug. 19, Milwaukee County has reached more than 12,000 damage reports submitted to 211. Preliminary 211 data showed the highest number of requests came from Milwaukee County's northwest side, along with West Milwaukee, in particular from ZIP codes 53218, 53209, and 53216. Reports from 211 calls also included basement water depths, as well as thousands of reports of utility disruptions and structural damage. County officials are urging residents to call 211 or visit to submit a damage report, ensuring eligibility for future financial assistance. The county says officials may not visit all homes that report damage but may perform a "drive-by" assessment to look at damage visible from the curb. Be wary of people posing as FEMA officials Local officials warn scammers often descend on areas hit by a crisis. If someone arrives at your house to assess damage, they will introduce themselves and show a badge. You should check those credentials before letting anyone inside or sharing personal information. If you're unsure, you can keep your door closed and contact local authorities. You can also report instances of suspected fraud by emailing StgopFEMAFraud@ or calling 866-223-0814. The state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection also warns homeowners to be wary of door-to-door home repair and remediation crews that use high-pressure tactics. The agency encourages consumers to hire local contractors and contact city officials to confirm the crew has the proper permits. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: FEMA may arrive in Wisconsin as early as Thursday, Crowley says
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
HUD extends foreclosure moratorium for L.A. County wildfire victims
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on Thursday announced a 90-day extension for its foreclosure moratorium for many single-family-home mortgages impacted by the Los Angeles County wildfires. Originally scheduled to expire on April 8 2025, the moratorium prohibits mortgage servicers from initiating or completing foreclosure actions on FHA-insured single-family forward or Home Equity Conversion mortgages in the Los Angeles County Presidential Major Disaster Declaration (PDMDA) area. The moratorium will now expire on July 7, 2025. Newsom extends housing access, rebuilding efforts for wildfire victims HUD also shared these tips for wildfire victims. Borrowers unable to make their mortgage payments should contact their mortgage servicer for assistance as soon as practical. Borrowers may also contact the FHA Resource Center at (800) CALL-FHA (1-800-877-8339 or TTY 1-800-877-8339) for assistance. Borrowers and renters who need immediate housing and disaster recovery assistance; HUD-certified housing counselors are prepared to provide guidance on the available options. To find a HUD-approved housing counseling agency, borrowers can use HUD's online search tool or use our phone search by calling (800) 569-4287 or (202) 708-1455 (TTY). For borrowers whose homes are destroyed or damaged to an extent that requires reconstruction or complete replacement, contact an FHA-approved lender about FHA's Section 203(h) loan program. This program provides 100 percent financing for eligible homeowners to rebuild or purchase new homes. For borrowers seeking to purchase and/or repair a home that has been damaged, contact an FHA-approved lender about FHA's Section 203(k) loan program. This program allows individuals to finance the purchase or refinance of a house and the costs of repair or renovation through a single mortgage. HUD Secretary Scott Turner made the announcement while touring a disaster zone in Altadena with Los Angeles Supervisor Kathryn Barger, whose district includes the Altadena area. 'HUD's extension of the foreclosure moratorium is a lifeline for wildfire survivors in Los Angeles County who are facing immense hardship,' Barger said in a statement. 'I appreciate Secretary Turner's leadership and commitment to ensuring that families impacted by these devastating fires have the time and support they need to recover. This critical relief will help stabilize our communities as we work together to rebuild and heal.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
