Trump Approves $17.9M Disaster Aid After July EF-3 Tornado in Fox Valley
APPLETON, Wis. — President Donald Trump on Oct. 7 approved a major disaster declaration for Wisconsin, unlocking $17.9 million in federal assistance to help communities rebuild after a destructive EF-3 tornado tore through the Fox Valley on July 27, the Post Crescent reported.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency's Public Assistance funding will reimburse local governments and eligible nonprofits in Brown, Outagamie and Winnebago counties for emergency response costs and long-term repairs to public infrastructure damaged by the tornado — from shredded power lines and debris-choked roads to damaged public buildings.
Wisconsin Emergency Management had estimated total damage at roughly $21 million, and Gov. Tony Evers had requested a federal declaration covering the hardest-hit areas. The July 27 storm packed winds topping 150 mph, damaging hundreds of homes and businesses around Appleton and Greenville and leaving thousands without power.
The declaration is Wisconsin's first federal disaster declaration since October 2024, and officials said it reflects the scale of a storm that overwhelmed local resources. Public Assistance typically covers 75% of eligible costs, with the state covering the remainder.
Local officials in the Fox Valley welcomed the news, saying the federal dollars would accelerate repairs to roads, utilities and public facilities that communities could not afford on their own. Damage assessments continue, and officials said additional assistance programs could follow as the recovery unfolds.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：EF3级龙卷风过后，威斯康星州梅纳沙一处民宅被夷为废墟。摄影：NWS Green Bay（美国国家气象局），公有领域，来源：Wikimedia Commons
