Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) joined a bipartisan group of Wisconsin colleagues in sending a letter Aug. 5 to President Obama, in support of Gov. Scott Walker’s request for a federal emergency declaration for several Wisconsin counties affected by recent flooding. Many of the counties are located in Wisconsin’s Third Congressional District.

“My staff and I have been closely monitoring the flood recovery efforts and have stayed in close touch with local officials, offering all the assistance we can to help local residents recover from the floods and begin the process of rebuilding,” said Kind. “People in these communities are resilient and committed to helping one another, but there is no doubt that federal assistance is needed to help everyone get back on their feet.”

This summer, between June 20-28,   many Wisconsin communities experienced record rainfall resulting in devastating floods and mudslides, causing major damage to hundreds of homes, farms, businesses, roads, and power lines. The western Wisconsin counties of Crawford, Grant, Richland and Vernon all suffered serious damage.

The letter describes the severe damage caused by the floods and makes a strong case for the immediate release of federal resources to aid in recovery efforts. Walker has already declared a state emergency and indicated that federal resources are needed to ensure quick and effective response and recovery.