Kohl asks FEMA for State of Emergency declaration

U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl, D-WI, was joined by the Wisconsin congressional delegation in urging Administrator David Paulison of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to give immediate consideration to Gov. Jim Doyle’s state of emergency declaration after severe storms and flooding caused massive damage throughout the state.

The delegation's letter says:

Dear Mr. Paulison:

Yesterday Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle declared a state of emergency for 29 counties hard hit by widespread flooding and severe storms. These storms have caused considerable damage to homes, businesses, roads, power lines and trees.

These storms are particularly challenging to regions of our state which had already experienced above normal rainfall. As of 9:30 A.M. (Eastern Time) today the Red Cross has opened shelters in Columbus, Gays Mills/Soldiers Grove, Spring Green, La Farge, Ontario, Viroqua, Reedsburg, Richland Center, Elroy, Madison, Avoca and Racine,Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Department of Corrections has or is preparing to dispatch work crews to Baraboo, Fall River and Columbus. The state Emergency Operations Center continues to receive requests for sandbagging, evacuation and other assistance.

Over the next few days damage assessment reports will be analyzed in more detail. Once that occurs, we anticipate a state appeal for federal disaster assistance. We encourage you to give any appeal submitted by Governor Doyle your immediate and full consideration.