WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Sean Duffy (R-WI), Chairman of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing & Insurance, today wrote a letter to Small Business Administration Administrator Linda McMahon regarding disaster relief in Barron and Rusk counties.

Below is an excerpt of the letter:

We write to offer our full support of Governor Scott Walker’s recent request to have staff from the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Office of Disaster Assistance come to Wisconsin and assess the damage caused by the May 16, 2017, tornado touchdown in Rusk and Barron counties.  Besides meeting with affected residents and touring damaged areas of both counties, it is our understanding that SBA staff also would meet with relevant state and local officials.

The tornado in question has been judged to have been a “severe damage” storm, scaled as an EF-3.  Its ground force winds were measured at between 135 mph and 165 mph as it moved over 80 miles of terrain.  Unfortunately, it destroyed dozens of homes and several businesses.  Most regrettably, it caused the death of one person and injured more than 20.  Especially hard hit were residents of the Prairie Lake Estate Mobile Home Park in Barron County.  At this time, private property damage estimates fall in the $7 million to $8 million range.

As you know, a SBA declaration and the subsequent offering of low-interest loans to qualified families and businesses could provide crucial, timely assistance to many of our constituents, including farmers, who now find themselves severely financially distressed.  If the SBA agrees to make economic injury loans available, the eventual repair or replacement of assets such as real estate, personal property, farm machinery and business equipment will help recipients better manage the individual financial damage the tornado caused them.

Again, we believe Governor Walker’s request to have relevant SBA staff become involved in our tornado response efforts has merit.  We respectfully request you grant his request. 

BACKGROUND:

Click HERE to read the bicameral, bipartisan letter in its entirety.

WI-7