Author: Sam Buisman

The Wisconsin State Government is looking to turn Alliant Energy Center into a makeshift care facility to brace for a coronavirus case surge.

According to a press release from Governor Tony Evers, the governor submitted an application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency to convert the 164-acre complex into a healthcare facility capable of housing COVID-19 patients.

If approved by FEMA, Alliant Energy Center would become the second alternate care facility created in Wisconsin to fight the coronavirus, after the governor designated the Wisconsin State Fair Park's Exposition Center as the first earlier this week. With the State Fair location selected to prevent the Milwaukee area's healthcare infrastructure from being overwhelmed by COVID-19 cases, the governor chose Alliant Energy Center to do the same for south-central Wisconsin.

“Hopefully this second site will not be needed,” Governor Evers said through a press release, “but we must prepare for it now so we are ready.”

Pending FEMA approval, the Army Corps of Engineers will partner with contractions to make the conversion.

At press time, the state offered no information on the planned patient or care capacities of the converted complex.