MONROE - The Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) on Wednesday declared a state of disaster in Green County.
The county was one of five added to a growing list eligible for federal relief related to record rains and flooding in recent weeks.
Statewide damage from last week's storms still was being tallied late Wednesday, but preliminary reports indicated losses would exceed $200 million.
Green County Emergency Management project director Tanna McKeon said more than 90 homes in Green County were damaged by the flood.
Green County Agriculture Agent Mark Mayer said crop losses in the county stand at about $5 million, but that number could be higher once all land is observed.
Lafayette County Sheriff Scott Pedley said the county estimates damages to corn, soybean and wheat crops in the county to be between $7 million and $8 million.
Representatives from FEMA and the Wisconsin Emergency Management plan to visit Lafayette County on Friday.
Lafayette County Sheriff Scott Pedley said anyone with damage to their homes or businesses should contact the sheriff's department before Friday by calling (608) 776-4870. The sheriff's department is gathering information for the FEMA teams for on-site visits Friday.
FEMA representatives, along with people from the Small Business Administration, visited Green County on Monday to look at flood damage and gather information.
McKeon said Red Cross cleanup kits are available at the Green County Health Department, the Green County Sheriff's Department and the Brodhead Police Department. Water testing kits also are available at the locations.
People who have received damages due to flooding should contact the Green County Emergency Management office at 328-9416.
About 4,000 people statewide had called FEMA by Wednesday to start applying for the grants and loans - the first indication of the number of people harmed by the storms.
FEMA's telephone registration line is operating 24 hours a day. Anyone with losses may call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) and register for disaster assistance. Those with speech or hearing impairments may call 1-800-462-7585.
In another development, Gov. Jim Doyle announced the state Department of Health and Family Services will begin taking applications Thursday for emergency food assistance for people in disaster counties.
The amount of assistance through the FoodShare Program will vary with family size, but a family of three might be eligible for up to $426, he said.
People are eligible for the money if their home, belongings or place of employment have been damaged or destroyed, if they have disaster-related expenses or if they have lost income, food or money because of flooding or severe weather.
"Once a person qualifies for benefits, they will receive a Wisconsin QUEST debit card that can be used at any grocery store that accepts the card," Doyle said.
River levels in Green and Lafayette counties continue to fall. The Sugar River at Brodhead has fallen below flood stage. It was at 4.24 feet at 4:15 a.m. Thursday. Flood stage is 5 feet.
The Pecatonica River at Martintown is still in flood stage, at 16.72 feet at 3 a.m. Thursday. Flood stage is 13.5 feet.
Upstream at Blanchardville, the river was at 8.59 feet at 4 a.m. Thursday. Flood stage is 11 feet.
Roads in Green and Lafayette counties are getting back to normal.
The only road still closed in Green County due to high water is County MM near Browntown. The road should be open by Saturday.
In Lafayette County, County M near Cisserville is still closed, and a couple of township roads near South Wayne may still have water over them.
- Times reporter Tere Dunlap and the Associated Press contributed to this story.
The county was one of five added to a growing list eligible for federal relief related to record rains and flooding in recent weeks.
Statewide damage from last week's storms still was being tallied late Wednesday, but preliminary reports indicated losses would exceed $200 million.
Green County Emergency Management project director Tanna McKeon said more than 90 homes in Green County were damaged by the flood.
Green County Agriculture Agent Mark Mayer said crop losses in the county stand at about $5 million, but that number could be higher once all land is observed.
Lafayette County Sheriff Scott Pedley said the county estimates damages to corn, soybean and wheat crops in the county to be between $7 million and $8 million.
Representatives from FEMA and the Wisconsin Emergency Management plan to visit Lafayette County on Friday.
Lafayette County Sheriff Scott Pedley said anyone with damage to their homes or businesses should contact the sheriff's department before Friday by calling (608) 776-4870. The sheriff's department is gathering information for the FEMA teams for on-site visits Friday.
FEMA representatives, along with people from the Small Business Administration, visited Green County on Monday to look at flood damage and gather information.
McKeon said Red Cross cleanup kits are available at the Green County Health Department, the Green County Sheriff's Department and the Brodhead Police Department. Water testing kits also are available at the locations.
People who have received damages due to flooding should contact the Green County Emergency Management office at 328-9416.
About 4,000 people statewide had called FEMA by Wednesday to start applying for the grants and loans - the first indication of the number of people harmed by the storms.
FEMA's telephone registration line is operating 24 hours a day. Anyone with losses may call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) and register for disaster assistance. Those with speech or hearing impairments may call 1-800-462-7585.
In another development, Gov. Jim Doyle announced the state Department of Health and Family Services will begin taking applications Thursday for emergency food assistance for people in disaster counties.
The amount of assistance through the FoodShare Program will vary with family size, but a family of three might be eligible for up to $426, he said.
People are eligible for the money if their home, belongings or place of employment have been damaged or destroyed, if they have disaster-related expenses or if they have lost income, food or money because of flooding or severe weather.
"Once a person qualifies for benefits, they will receive a Wisconsin QUEST debit card that can be used at any grocery store that accepts the card," Doyle said.
River levels in Green and Lafayette counties continue to fall. The Sugar River at Brodhead has fallen below flood stage. It was at 4.24 feet at 4:15 a.m. Thursday. Flood stage is 5 feet.
The Pecatonica River at Martintown is still in flood stage, at 16.72 feet at 3 a.m. Thursday. Flood stage is 13.5 feet.
Upstream at Blanchardville, the river was at 8.59 feet at 4 a.m. Thursday. Flood stage is 11 feet.
Roads in Green and Lafayette counties are getting back to normal.
The only road still closed in Green County due to high water is County MM near Browntown. The road should be open by Saturday.
In Lafayette County, County M near Cisserville is still closed, and a couple of township roads near South Wayne may still have water over them.
- Times reporter Tere Dunlap and the Associated Press contributed to this story.