UPDATED Tuesday, August 25, 2009 --- 4:15 p.m.

Press Release:
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
536 South Clark Street, 6th Floor
Chicago, IL 60605

August 25, 2009

CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today released $1,733,227 in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds to the village of Rock Springs, Wisc., for the acquisition and removal of up to 19 structures.

HMGP provides grants to state and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures. Through HMGP, FEMA will pay 75 percent of the project costs. The remaining 25 percent of the cost will be provided through a combination of funds from the state of Wisconsin and the village of Rock Springs. The state of Wisconsin administers the HMGP program.

“This project will ensure the health, safety and welfare of the people who lived in these Rock Springs homes,” said Janet M. Odeshoo, acting regional administrator, FEMA Region V. “The acquisition will help prevent future structural losses, emergency repair costs and the financial obligations of federal, state and local governments.”

HMGP funds will be used to remove these homes from a flood-prone area, returning the properties to open space in perpetuity. HMGP projects like this are the cornerstone of disaster prevention efforts, and illustrate the importance of local, state and federal government working together for the benefit of citizens.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

__________________________________________________

POSTED: Saturday, July 12, 2008 -- 2:30pm

For the second time in just weeks, the village of Rock Springs has suffered flood damage. The river that runs through the area rose to threatening levels again, forcing village officials to begin sandbagging downtown buildings.

"The 2 buildings that have had most of the remodeling work done we sandbagged them yesterday to protect them," says village fire chief, Mark Weihing. "The water is basically up to the edge of main street but it's not on main street right now."

On a more positive note however, was help in the form of a stranger.

"We came down from Winona to help relieve the stress from people that are working here. It makes us feel good to be able to contribute even though it's a small way," says cleanup volunteer Dawn Lueck.

Lueck and her church group drove all the way to Rock Springs from Minnesota after hearing how badly the community was hit the first time. Saturday, they decided to help with the cleanup efforts.

"When we heard about the situation we knew that there was flooding in the Wisconsin area and Iowa."

"We just hope to I don't know just make it easier for them to get back to their normal lives."

With the downtown area hit by flood waters again so soon, village leaders must now try to come up with a solution.

"I think we have to look pretty carefully," says Weihing. "I mean this has happened, the river has actually gotten up to this level several over the past few years and the village has to decide if they want to continue to deal with this every time or try and take some other steps."

As for cleanup, this volunteer group plans to stay through the weekend hoping to help get people in the village back on their feet again.