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Green County added to disaster list

MADISON -- Green County is among five more Wisconsin counties declared disaster areas Wednesday from storms and flooding, meaning 12 counties are now eligible for federal grants and low-interest loans to aid the recovery.

The move came as the Federal Emergency Management Agency said the first grants totaling nearly $38,000 have been given for such things as emergency home repairs and temporary housing.

"We are expecting that number to grow substantially," FEMA spokeswoman Hannah Vick said. "The process is just starting up for us as far the money we are approving and getting out the door."

Gov. Jim Doyle said Dodge, Green, Washington, Waukesha and Winnebago counties were added to the list of disaster areas. Late last week, President Bush designated Crawford, Columbia, Milwaukee, Richland, Racine, Sauk and Vernon counties disaster areas.

Damage from last week's storms was still being tallied late Wednesday, but preliminary reports indicated losses would exceed $200 million.

Doyle has declared states of emergency in 30 counties because of the storms, and more of those could be designated disaster areas as surveys of the losses are completed, the governor said.

A series of three heavy thunderstorms dumped 6 to 12 inches of rain across much of southern Wisconsin, with places in Sauk, Dodge and Columbia counties getting up to 16 inches, the National Weather Service said.

About 4,000 people 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.

"We are also expecting that number to grow," Vick said.

The Red Cross and Salvation Army have handed out more than 10,000 cleanup kits - another indicator of the number of people affected, said Lori Getter, a spokeswoman for Wisconsin Emergency Management. The charities were nearly out of the kits that include a bucket, mop, bleach, sponge, scrubbing brushes, rubber gloves, plastic bags and all-purpose cleaner, Getter said.

"They need more help in replacing them," she said.

State officials were pleased by the news that the first FEMA grants had been given to victims early this week, given that the first disaster declarations were made Saturday, Getter said: "This is a very fast turnaround."

Getter recommended everyone who has storm damage at least apply for federal money, even though some losses could be covered by private insurance.

In another development, 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.