MONROE - The Wisconsin National Guard has offered Green County any assistance it needs to deal with flooding and storm damage.
Gen. Don Dunbar visited with county officials Wednesday at the Pleasant View Complex.
"We want to assist without interfering," Dunbar said.
The group included Green County Emergency Management project director Tanna McKeon, Green County Sheriff Randy Roderick, Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley and Brodhead Police Chief Tom Moczynski. Green County Board members also attended the meeting.
Dunbar said the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) changed the way it operates in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
"It used to be that they'd wait until the local, county and state governments were overwhelmed, and then they would go in to help," Dunbar said. "Now, they take a proactive approach."
Dunbar said the National Guard can provide a presence in the counties affected by floods but doesn't act as a law enforcement agency. He also said the National Guard can provide engineers and equipment to pump water.
McKeon told Dunbar the county suffered about $500,000 worth of damage to homes during last week's storms, about the same amount of damage it received during the floods in August 2007. Most of the damage occurred in Decatur township near Brodhead.
Moczynski said about 20 homes in Brodhead were damaged due to flooding, but the city was spared because of the Decatur Dam, which limits the amount of water that flows into the west side of the city.
Roderick said the county was fortunate in that it didn't have any highways under water.
"We had a few county roads and some township roads under water," he said.
There weren't any roads washed out because of flooding, McKeon added.
Dunbar said he's been encouraged by the community support for flood victims across the state, but people need to remember they can ask for assistance.
"Folks need to call in to report damage and request assistance," he said. "I know some people might see water in their basement and want to handle it themselves, but they need to report it."
He said the same philosophy applies to local government.
"If something comes up and you need assistance, let us know," he said.
Dunbar said there are about 300 Wisconsin National Guardsmen deployed overseas now which means there are enough to help with flood problems.
"Even if we had 40 percent of our troops overseas there would still be enough to help," he said.
Gen. Don Dunbar visited with county officials Wednesday at the Pleasant View Complex.
"We want to assist without interfering," Dunbar said.
The group included Green County Emergency Management project director Tanna McKeon, Green County Sheriff Randy Roderick, Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley and Brodhead Police Chief Tom Moczynski. Green County Board members also attended the meeting.
Dunbar said the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) changed the way it operates in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
"It used to be that they'd wait until the local, county and state governments were overwhelmed, and then they would go in to help," Dunbar said. "Now, they take a proactive approach."
Dunbar said the National Guard can provide a presence in the counties affected by floods but doesn't act as a law enforcement agency. He also said the National Guard can provide engineers and equipment to pump water.
McKeon told Dunbar the county suffered about $500,000 worth of damage to homes during last week's storms, about the same amount of damage it received during the floods in August 2007. Most of the damage occurred in Decatur township near Brodhead.
Moczynski said about 20 homes in Brodhead were damaged due to flooding, but the city was spared because of the Decatur Dam, which limits the amount of water that flows into the west side of the city.
Roderick said the county was fortunate in that it didn't have any highways under water.
"We had a few county roads and some township roads under water," he said.
There weren't any roads washed out because of flooding, McKeon added.
Dunbar said he's been encouraged by the community support for flood victims across the state, but people need to remember they can ask for assistance.
"Folks need to call in to report damage and request assistance," he said. "I know some people might see water in their basement and want to handle it themselves, but they need to report it."
He said the same philosophy applies to local government.
"If something comes up and you need assistance, let us know," he said.
Dunbar said there are about 300 Wisconsin National Guardsmen deployed overseas now which means there are enough to help with flood problems.
"Even if we had 40 percent of our troops overseas there would still be enough to help," he said.