Posted Tuesday, July 8 --- 5:25pm

One Sauk County community still has homes surrounded by standing water. On Tuesday, FEMA's head in Wisconsin was scheduled to visit the area. The group was flying by helicopter to a number of communities, but poor visibility cancelled most of the trip.

Many places continue to struggle, but Spring Green is one spot where recovery's on hold.

"The longer these houses sit, the worse they're going to get," Gene Dischler says.

Dischler's home has sat with water around it for a month. He can only guess when he'll be able to return for good.

"This water's going to lay in these pockets for months," he says.

But Dischler would rather find a new place to call home -- estimating he already has damage in the tens of thousands of dollars.

"I know all of the people want out ... because we don't want to go through this two years from now, 10 years from now... We're never gonna get enough money from FEMA to fix up what we need and then it happen again," Dischler says.

The homes in this low-lying area flooded back in 1993... but people say this year's flood is far worse. Back then, officials tried pumping out water but say it was ineffective.

"Again, it comes down to funding... that's why it's so important with federal folks coming down to really see what we're dealing with here, it's unique," Sauk County Emergency Management Director Jeff Jelinek says.

Local officials say the Army Corps of Engineers is studying the problem but, at this point, has offered no short term solutions.

"Right now, we're looking at just trying to figure out if there's any feasible way of removing the water," Jelinek says.

... Or using federal funds given to the state for a buyout program ...

"The problem is there is a match at the local level," Jelinek says.

"We're hopefully going to be able to satisfy most of the people... probably condemn or possibly do a buyout, but we'll have to see where we're at with the dollars," Town Board Chair Benny Stenner says.

"There's a lot of people willing to sign that piece of paper and go," Dischler says.

One pump is working along the nearby highway, trying to help drain water from the area. Tuesday's trip has been re-scheduled for Thursday. The group also will visit Rock Springs in Sauk County.