Gov. Tony Evers declared a statewide emergency as storms, flooding hit Wisconsin

April 17, 2026

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers declared a statewide emergency Wednesday as Wisconsin communities continued to grapple with flooding, tornado damage, power outages and record rainfall from a series of severe storms, with more bad weather expected in the days ahead.

Evers signed Executive Order No. 289 after touring storm damage in the Juneau County village of Union Center, where he met with residents, emergency responders and local officials to assess the impact of the storms. The governor plans to continue visiting affected communities as recovery efforts move forward.

The storms began sweeping across Wisconsin on April 13, bringing high winds, tornadoes, hail and heavy rain that triggered flooding, caused structural damage and forced evacuations in parts of the state. The National Weather Service has confirmed multiple tornadoes in central and southeastern Wisconsin.

“After severe storms that swept across the state and more still to come, it is critical that we ensure our communities have access to every available resource to help local folks and families in need and secure essential infrastructure,” Evers said in a statement. He thanked emergency responders, volunteers and local partners for assisting with recovery and urged residents to remain alert as additional storms are possible.

The emergency declaration allows state agencies to deploy additional personnel and resources to assist local governments and speed response and recovery operations. The State Emergency Operations Center was elevated to Level 2 earlier this week to coordinate the growing response as damage reports mounted.

Fire departments, law enforcement agencies, public works crews, utilities and volunteer organizations have been working across the state to clear debris, restore power and assess damage. Wisconsin Emergency Management, part of the Department of Military Affairs, is coordinating with county officials to determine resource needs and support recovery efforts.

The executive order is effective immediately and will remain in place as state and local officials respond to ongoing storm impacts and prepare for the possibility of more severe weather.