Thousands of Milwaukee residents are still dealing with costly repairs and other challenges from the severe storms and flooding in August.
Both the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, and the U.S. Small Business Administration are offering financial resources and other support.
As of Wednesday, Oct. 1, $42.8 million in assistance has been approved for over 6,000 applicants in Milwaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties.
The government shutdown will not impact the Small Business Administration’s disaster services. Most FEMA employees are considered exempt from furloughs, but the Disaster Relief Fund needs congressional approval for additional funds, according to NPR.
Here’s what you need to know.
What is FEMA assistance?
FEMA provides grant assistance, which does not have to be repaid and is not taxable income, according to Kim Keblish, public affairs specialist for FEMA.
If you have no insurance or if your home, renter’s, vehicle or flood insurance did not cover all or any of the storm’s damage to your property, you are eligible to apply.
Applicants can get money toward temporary housing and home repairs, like replacing water heaters, ventilation, air conditioning and furnaces. Other disaster-related expenses can include medical or dental costs, child care, vehicle repair or replacement and moving storage.
“Everyone that applies for assistance will receive a decision from FEMA and will receive the money they’re eligible for,” Keblish said.
Where do I apply?
You can apply online at disasterassistance.gov or disasterassistance.gov/es, with the FEMA mobile app or by calling the FEMA hotline at 800-621-3362 by Nov. 12.
Milwaukee County opened two Disaster Recovery Centers to assist individuals applying for assistance at the former McNair Elementary School, 4950 N. 24th St., and Wauwatosa City Hall, 7725 W. North Ave.
Both locations are open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
“This is extremely beneficial for people that maybe aren’t the most technologically savvy or they just really want to come in person and talk to someone,” Keblish said.
On Friday, Oct. 10, the Wauwatosa location will close and move services to a new location. That location is yet to be determined.
What do I need to bring?
Applicants will need to provide their Social Security number, the address of the damaged home or apartment, their current address (if it’s different from the damaged location), a copy of the home’s deed or lease and a reliable email address and phone number.
After you apply and that process is happening, FEMA will ask to see insurance documentation because by law, FEMA cannot duplicate benefits that are covered by insurance, Keblish said.
If an application requires a home inspection, an inspector will reach out typically seven to 10 days after the application is filled out to schedule an appointment to visit the property.
Applicants can submit photos, contractor receipts or estimates and other documentation to verify the damage and work needed.
Each application is reviewed on an individual basis. After inspection, a resident can expect to hear back in about a week or two through a letter, email or phone call.
Small Business Administration resources
The Small Business Administration offers loans with low interest rates and terms up to 30 years for the long-term recovery of businesses, private nonprofits and homeowners and renters from flood and storm damage caused from Aug. 9 to Aug. 12.
This is a separate program from FEMA assistance, but residents can apply to both. Unlike FEMA, you don’t need to wait for an insurance denial to begin a loan application.
“Our biggest selling point is we do offer the lowest interest rates that we possibly can,” said Elise Hillman, public affairs specialist for the Small Business Administration’s Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience.
In Milwaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties, applicants are eligible for home disaster loans, business physical disaster loans and economic injury disaster loans.
Homeowners and renters may be eligible to borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property and up to $500,000 for primary residence repairs, while businesses and nonprofits can apply to borrow up to $2 million to fix damaged buildings, equipment and other assets.
The economic injury disaster loans are available to small businesses and nonprofits that cannot meet financial obligations due to the disaster but do not have physical damage.
Interest rates start at 4% for small businesses and 3% for homeowners and renters. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until a year into the loan.
How to apply for home and business loans
The deadline to apply for home disaster and business physical disaster loans is Nov. 10. For economic injury disaster loans, the deadline is June 11, 2026.
Applications for the loans can be submitted online at sba.gov/disaster or in Spanish here. Applicants may also call 800-659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
Residents can also visit the Small Business Administration’s Business Recovery Center at Summit Place, 6737 W. Washington St., in West Allis. It is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.
Walk-ins are accepted, but in-person appointments can be scheduled in advance at appointment.sba.gov.
Small Business Administration staff are also available at the Disaster Recovery Centers, according to Hillman.
Staff will check applicants for an acceptable credit history and the ability to repay all loans, and they may also schedule an inspection.
Christopher Logan, the lead customer service representative for the administration’s Business Recovery Center, said applicants can bring information they would need for a tax return or any documents that show income and monthly expenses.
If your loan application is approved, you may be eligible for additional mitigation assistance to protect your property against future disasters.
“This is really important because it also applies to someone who is living in a flood zone area who’s also going to be prone to more flooding in years to come,” Hillman said.
Meredith Melland is the neighborhoods reporter for Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service and a corps member of Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues and communities. Report for America plays no role in editorial decisions in the NNS newsroom.
Jonathan Aguilar is a visual journalist at Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service who is supported through a partnership between CatchLight Local and Report for America.
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