President Obama today issued a major disaster declaration for eight Wisconsin counties — including Grant, Richland, Crawford and Iowa counties — as a result of the June 20–28 storms and flooding.

The disaster declaration will allow communities in those counties to apply for federal assistance through their counties' emergency management departments.

The disaster declaration does not include homeowners or business owners, because the level of damage in the counties does not meet federal requirements for disaster relief, according to a news release from the office of Gov. Scott Walker.

The storms and resulting flooding caused more than $9.2 million in public infrastructure damage.

The disaster declaration covers Grant, Richland, Crawford and Iowa counties, plus Ashland, Bayfield, St. Croix and Vernon counties and the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa reservation in Bayfield County.

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