City officials Wednesday approved submitting a disaster declaration aimed at recouping some of the damage and cleanup expenses incurred as a result of severe storms that hit the area Aug. 21.
A string of powerful thunderstorms wreaked havoc throughout the area, downing trees and utility lines. The storms knocked out power to more than 1,100 people in Wescott and more than 1,000 from the south side of Shawano and stretching to the Bonduel area.
The storms also caused the death of a Menominee County woman — Marlo King, 39, of Neopit — who was killed when a tree fell on top of her car in Keshena.
Most of the damage to Shawano County was caused by straight-line winds that reached speeds of 90 to 100 mph, according to Shawano County Emergency Management.
Trees and power lines were reported down throughout the city and a number of homes were damaged. Cleanup after the storm continued for days.
In order to be eligible to receive assistance from the Wisconsin Disaster Fund, a disaster declaration first had to be approved by the Common Council and submitted to Shawano County.
According to the declaration, high-level straight line winds caused significant damage throughout the city, causing the city to expand and commit all of its available resources.
City Administrator Brian Knapp said each of the departments impacted was still crunching the numbers to determine the expenses incurred.
However, Knapp said, the Department of Public works spent well over $100,000 dealing with the storm and its aftermath, while Shawano Municipal Utilities incurred costs of at least $45,000.
An estimate wasn’t yet available for the Parks Department, but, Knapp said, the department had significant cleanup costs and damage to Woodlawn Cemetery. The cemetery had to be closed for a couple of days after the storm to allow the cleanup.
Knapp said it was not known what expenses the state will deem eligible for reimbursement.
Some of the expenses that could be eligible include damage to city buildings and facilities, cost of storm-related waste disposal and overtime incurred by departments responding to the storm.
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