The Federal Emergency Management Agency confirmed $17.9 million in disaster aid is being made available for Wisconsinites in Forest, Outagamie, Vilas and Winnebago counties to assist with damage caused by a tornado and severe storms on July 27.
President Donald Trump announced via a post on Truth Social on Wednesday that he would be approving the money after speaking with U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, who is running for governor. The aid is meant to help communities after a tornado and severe storms hit parts of Appleton and Menasha in July, destroying and damaging homes.
Gov. Tony Evers, who had issued a call for aid in August, said Wednesday that he had not heard from the federal administration, cast doubt on when the money would be available and accused Trump and Tiffany of playing politics. Evers initially sent a request for federal aid to Trump in August, after assessments found more than $8.2 million in damage to more than 2,300 residential properties and more than $13.8 million in public sector damage. The request had so far gone unfulfilled and in the absence of aid, local communities had turned to fundraising efforts…