Flooding Damage Response in High Gear

 Richland Center…. “The magnitude of the present flood and storm damages across much of Wisconsin may have no precedent, based on the feedback of municipal and county officials represented by Senator Dale Schultz (R-Richland Center). 

In a letter to Governor Jim Doyle, Schultz and Representative Sheryl Albers (R-Reedsburg) ask for help in expediting a state request for a federal Major Disaster Declaration. Schultz anticipates much of southwest Wisconsin will meet the thresholds for a federal disaster determination, based on what he is hearing from the leaders of Towns, Villages, Cities and Counties across the region he serves.  Schultz thanked Doyle for promptly issuing a Wisconsin Declaration of Emergency that includes the entire southwest region of the state among 30 counties, includes the entire southwest region that Schultz represents.  Schultz said his on site visits to flood damaged communities, plus dozens of phone calls to local leaders show people are working as a team to cope with problems.    “For one thing, law enforcement agencies and public cooperation helped keep people out of harms’ way,” Schultz said.  “That avoided adding considerable tragedy to widespread property losses.”

2007 Flood Response Some Southwestern Wisconsin communiteis are still recovering from flooding that resulted from storms in the summer of 2007.  Click here to read more on that topic.

Schultz said forecasts for continued rains have officials at all levels braced to deal with more damages.  In that event, Schultz said the federal disaster declaration would seem a foregone conclusion. 

Having been to several communities over the weekend and on Monday, Schultz asked Doyle to join him in the region to see the extent of damages first hand.  Schultz said that among those in greatest need of help are families and businesses that were still rebuilding and recovering from storm and flood damages of August 2007. 

Schultz urged individuals and community leaders to work with their county emergency government offices as a liaison for state help, and to call him for help as needed. 

The county emergency government contact for this area is: 

GRANT COUNTY

Steve Braun, Grant County Emergency Government, Lancaster

Office 608.723.7171, fax 608.723.5159, email: gcemds@pcii.net  

LAFAYETTE COUNTY

John Reichling, Lafayette County Emergency Government, Darlington

Office 608.776.4870, fax 608.776.4810, email: fjreichling@yahoo.com 

JUNEAU COUNTY

Gervase C. Thompson, Juneau County Emergency Government, Mauston

Office 608.847.9393, fax 608.847.9501, email: emjuneau@co.juneau.wi.us 

IOWA COUNTY

Kenneth Palzkill, Iowa County Emergency Government, Dodgeville

Office 608.935.0329, fax 608.935-3024, email: ken.palzkill@iowacounty.org 

MONROE COUNTY

Cynthia Engelke, Monroe County Emergency Government, Sparta

Office 608.269.8711, fax 608.269.8985, email: cengelke@co.monroe.wi.us 

SAUK COUNTY

Jeff Jelinek, Sauk County Emergency Government, Baraboo

Office 608.355.3200, fax 608.355.3299, email: jjelinek@co.sauk.wi.us 

RICHLAND COUNTY

Darin Gudgeon, Richland County Emergency Government, Richland Center

Office 608.647.8187, fax 608.647.7151, email: gudgeond@co.richland.wi.us