Local Officials Urged to Attend Monday Meeting on Winter Disaster Declaration

March 27, 2008
Joshua Wescott, Office of the County Executive (608) 267-8823 or cell (608) 669-5606

(Madison)…Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk is encouraging municipal and school officials to attend a meeting Monday that will detail how communities can apply to recoup costs from a February storm that dumped more than a foot of snow in the area. At the request of Governor Doyle, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a rare winter disaster declaration for Dane and seven other southern Wisconsin counties affected by the major storm that hit February 5th-7th. The declaration means that local units of government are eligible to have certain public safety and snow removal costs incurred during that storm reimbursed. “This winter’s record-breaking, historic snowfalls have really tested our citizens and the towns, villages, and cities they live in,” County Executive Kathleen Falk said. “I’m hopeful our local leaders will attend Monday’s meeting, learn what storm related expenses may be eligible for reimbursement, and then get the proper paperwork into our Dane County Emergency Management office.” Dane County will submit those forms to the federal government prior to FEMA’s April 18th deadline. “We’re looking forward to working with our state and federal partners to help get these winter storm rebate checks out to our communities as soon as possible,” Falk said. Monday’s meeting will be hosted by Wisconsin Emergency Management. # # #