U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil is leading Wisconsin’s congressional delegation in urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency to expedite a damage assessment to unlock federal aid for communities devastated by severe flooding earlier this month.
In a letter sent Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025, the delegation requested a Joint Preliminary Damage Assessment, a critical step toward securing a Major Disaster Declaration for Wisconsin. The move follows historic rainfall on Aug. 9 and 10 that caused widespread flooding in the Milwaukee region.
“I remain committed to helping Wisconsin families affected by this disaster access available resources,” Steil said. “Timely action is critical and I’m grateful for my colleagues’ support as we work with the Administration to quickly secure the resources necessary to help families in our community recover from this storm.”
Steil, representing Wisconsin’s 1st District, first contacted the White House and FEMA on Aug. 10, the day the storms struck. He followed up with a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Aug. 14. Wisconsin Gov. declared a state of emergency on Aug. 11, and the state formally requested FEMA assistance on Aug. 13.
The storms dumped up to 14.5 inches of rain in parts of Milwaukee and Waukesha counties, with some areas seeing 10 to 12 inches in less than 24 hours, according to the National Weather Service and Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District. The deluge overwhelmed drainage systems, flooded basements, submerged vehicles, and closed major roads, including parts of I-41 and I-94.
Waukesha County reported an estimated $2 million in damage to county roads alone, with homes and businesses facing extensive property damage. On Monday, Waukesha County announced that private property damage estimates reached $63.7 million, based on the fair market value of 1,828 reported damaged homes, with public property damage costs at approximately $4.4 million. No flood-related deaths were reported, but emergency crews conducted dozens of water rescues.
Every member of Wisconsin’s congressional delegation signed Tuesday’s letter, signaling unified support for recovery efforts.
For more details on the letter, visit steil.house.gov. For flood recovery resources, see waukeshacounty.gov/disasterinformation and county.milwaukee.gov/2025FloodResources.
