The state says nearly 800 housing units or families were assisted by the funding after more than 5,000 homes were impacted by natural disasters in 2024

The city of Chicago, Cook County and the state of Illinois are appealing President Donald Trump’s denial last week of a disaster declaration that would have unlocked federal financial assistance for survivors and public repairs after heavy rains and flooding in the state in July and August.

Following August’s historic flooding, state lawmakers are working on a way for Wisconsinites affected by disasters to receive grant money through a new program.

Donald Trump has denied Wisconsin’s request for federal public assistance to repair infrastructure in six counties devastated by August flooding, a decision that state and local officials called disheartening and unacceptable as communities continue struggling with millions of dollars in damage.

State and local government officials in Wisconsin objected Friday to the Trump administration’s decision to deny additional  disaster assistance to rebuild infrastructure in  Door, Grant, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties after the historic floods in August.

County officials were already cutting the 2026 budget when feds denied disaster aid.

Eager to receive a share of the $67.9 million in match-free Community Development Disaster Recovery grants that the state will be handing out to flood-ravaged communities, applicants submitted requests by the Sept. 30 deadline totalling $121 million, almost double the amount of available funds.

Program offers low-interest assistance for homeowners, renters, and businesses recovering from Sept. floods.

During a Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee hearing today, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) pressed experts on how to strengthen disaster recovery and mitigation programs for communities like Globe and Miami in Arizona, where recent historic flooding devastated neighborhoods and business, claiming three lives, in addition to the dozens of other lives lost to extreme weather in Arizona this year.