Gov. Walker surveys damage

SAXON, Wis. — Gov. Scott Walker made an unexpected trip to Iron County Tuesday to meet with local officials and get a first-hand picture of the damage caused by Monday night’s storm.

“What a huge impact on something so beautiful,” Walker said, following a helicopter tour of the impacted area in the northern part of the state, including Saxon Harbor. “You can see the incredible damage there. Obviously, first and foremost (the concern) is going to be safety.”

“It’s good for us to see first hand and then we’ll keep all the different state agencies that are on the ground orchestrated through Wisconsin Emergency Management,” he said.

The U.S. Coast Guard is expected to come down from Duluth in the upcoming days to work on removing the boats and cars damaged in the harbor during the storm.

Forest and Parks Administrator Eric Peterson told the governor his conversations with the Coast Guard indicated one of its main priorities would be preventing pollution from the damaged boats during the removal process.

Earlier Tuesday, Walker issued an emergency declaration for the eight counties — Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Price, Sawyer and Washburn — impacted by the storm.

He said issuing the declaration was the “quickest thing” he could do to help the affected areas, as it starts the process of applying for assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

“Because the sooner (the declaration) happens, the sooner that gets the ball rolling with the federal government,” Walker said.

“Safety is first and paramount, then cleanup, then you start talking about what kind of financial assistance (is available),” Walker said. “Certainly with this kind of damage we can make a compelling case (for federal aid) in the eight counties.”

“Now, a lot of these boat owners and others will have private insurance so that process will run through ... but for the county and the community in terms of the harbor and dealing with just access points — you’ve got a number of bridges washed out, things like that — that’s where we can provide some assistance,” he said.

The state also has representatives from a number of state agencies, including the Department of Emergency Management, Department of Transportation, Department of Natural Resources and Department of Health Services, on the ground to help with the aftermath of the storm.

Walker said the recovery effort will require the cooperation of all levels of government.

“We’re going to have to work together with not only the local highway folks here, but obviously the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the federal government with this being U.S. 2,” Walker said.

He encouraged residents to document any damage to county, municipal and tribal property, as well as private property.

“All that helps us in getting an emergency declaration,” Walker said.