Getting federal disaster help from last month’s flooding in the Duluth-Superior region has taken on political tones in that area’s congressional race.
Last week, FEMA and Wisconsin Emergency Management officials toured damaged areas in Ashland, Bayfield and Douglas Counties. It’s not clear if the damage will reach the $7.7 million relief threshold for uninsured repairs needed to public facilities. Another quirk in the process is that those counties can’t join harder-hit Minnesota in tallying total damage. Same storm, but different state.
Former Democratic state Sen. Pat Kreitlow says that doesn’t make sense. “It shouldn’t happen in any case where a segment of a state is punished because the bulk of the damage was done across a state line. We are one country, where federal disaster assistance should help an entire area, and it would be a real failing on the part of Congressman Duffy if he were not able to help make sure that part of his district does get its fair share.”
Stay informed on the latest news
Sign up for WPR’s email newsletter.
Kreitlow is running against first-term Republican Congressman Sean Duffy. Duffy says his hands are tied, but damage assessments haven’t been finished. “My hope, though, is that if there is a larger damage out there, specifically the schools, if we’re to have that included because there was significant damage there, hopefully we can get past that threshold where we can get access to federal dollars. So, if we can get to those levels, then I can be an advocate out here.”
FEMA and state officials say adding up the damage numbers may still take another week or two.
Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2024, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.
