UPDATE: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 --- 1:20 p.m.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Federal money to help Wisconsin recover from storms and flooding is arriving.
State emergency officials said Wednesday the first Federal Emergency Management Agency grants have been awarded for such things as emergency home repairs and temporary housing. They total nearly $38,000.
President Bush has declared seven counties disaster areas: Crawford, Columbia, Milwaukee, Richland, Racine, Sauk and Vernon. The declaration frees up FEMA grants and low-interest loans to help people recover.
Governor Jim Doyle has declared a state of emergency in another 23 counties and some of those could be declared disaster areas as surveys of the losses are completed.
Damage from last week's storms and flooding is still being tallied, but preliminary reports indicate the losses will exceed $200 million.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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Wednesday, June 18, 2008 --- 7:35 a.m.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Damage figures have climbed to more than $200 million from the extensive flooding in southern Wisconsin this month, and that's with the damage in many counties not yet included.
The Waukesha County executive reports about $85 million in losses, including $73 million in damage to homes, $6 million to businesses and just under $4 million in debris cleanup, roadway repairs and damage to dams.
In Dane County, officials say there's been $64 million in agricultural damage, another $5 million to homes and businesses and almost $4 million in infrastructure damage.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Dodge County has tallied at least $12 million in crop damage and just over $1 million in residential damage.
In Vernon County, emergency management officials report $6.5 million in damage to homes and businesses, $5.5 million for crop losses and $3.5 million in costs for debris cleanup and road and bridge repair.
Richland County reports at least $3 million in damage to residential property, about half of it in Viola, with farm damage still being tallied.
The damage in Washington and Ozaukee counties totals $12 million so far, with half of the losses to homes.