28 counties now in FEMA disaster area

By Steve Sharp of the Daily Times staff
Wednesday, June 25, 2008 12:27 PM CDT

MADISON - Gov. Jim Doyle announced Tuesday afternoon that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has declared a state of disaster in Jefferson County and several others affected by recent flooding, bringing the number of Wisconsin counties where individual assistance is available to 28.

The other counties named Tuesday were Adams, Calumet, Green Lake, La Crosse and Walworth.

“We have worked continuously to ensure that help is getting to the people who have been hit hard by floods and severe weather, and I want to thank FEMA for now extending assistance across southern Wisconsin,” Doyle said.

Jefferson County officials were in meetings this morning and were unavailable for comment on the FEMA inclusion of the county.

State Rep. Andy Jorgensen, D-Fort Atkinson, however, said today he was happy to hear of FEMA's decision to declare Jefferson County a disaster area.

ADVERTISEMENT

“FEMA's declaration is the key to unlocking federal aid dollars,” Jorgensen said. “Families in my district desperately need this financial help for their cleanup efforts. Small business owners and farmers will have some source for recouping lost income and getting back up and running.”

Jorgensen said he applauded efforts of county emergency management workers, state coordinators, Doyle and the FEMA teams to secure this important distinction for the county.

“With this hurdle out of the way, we can move forward in the recovery process. We all want that,” he said.

Wisconsin residents, so far, have received approximately $3.2 million in federal and state disaster assistance grants. Officials continue to urge homeowners, renters and business owners who sustained storm and flood-related damage to register by calling 1-800-462-7585 or registering online at www.fema.gov.

The assistance to Wisconsin families includes:

- 15,212 residents have registered for individual assistance in the 22 previously declared Wisconsin counties.

- $2.8 million in individual assistance has been distributed for temporary housing and home repairs.

- $401,000 has been provided for other disaster needs such as transportation, medical and dental expenses, moving and storage fees, and replacement or repair of personal property.

- $4,485 home inspections have been completed.

- 1,293 individuals have visited the seven Wisconsin disaster recovery centers (DRCs).

Seven DRCs remain open daily, with the closest being in Columbus. Additional DRCs will be opening in the upcoming days in the remaining affected counties.

In addition to the counties named Tuesday, FEMA has made federal assistance available to those living in Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Iowa, Juneau, Kenosha, Marquette, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Sheboygan, Vernon, Washington, Waukesha and Winnebago counties.

FEMA aid can include rental payments for temporary housing for people whose homes are unlivable, grants for repairs and for the replacement of household items not covered by insurance, and low-interest loans for residential, agricultural or other business losses.

FEMA's declaration also makes individuals eligible for disaster unemployment assistance. These payments will be made available for workers who temporarily lost jobs because of the flooding but do not qualify for typical state unemployment benefits.

Persons who may be in need of assistance, Jorgensen said, should first call the Jefferson County emergency management staff at (920) 674-8695. People may also want to call the FEMA hotline, toll-free, at (800) 621-3362. FEMA caseworkers will continue to assess losses in Jefferson County in the weeks ahead.