Spring Green Residents Still Underwater
Three Weeks After Massive Rain, Spring Green Water Not Receding
UPDATED: 10:56 am CDT June 30,
2008
SPRING GREEN, Wis. -- While most rain-swollen area rivers have crested, flooding is still a concern for parts of Sauk County.More than 1,400 Sauk County residents are registered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and nearly 200 of those residents are from the village and township of Spring Green."I've got a stick so I know where the roads are," Spring Green resident Jim Blau said with a laugh.Three weeks after the torrential rain drenched Spring Green, many residents can still only access their homes by boat.Jim Blau and Gene Dischler live in the Prairie View subdivision."There are, I think, five houses in here that are flooded up in their living area," said Blau.Julie and Darrell Neuheisel spent Sunday loading up the last of their belongings."It's total devastation," said Julie Neuheisel. "I mean we've lost everything and we don't know if we're going to get anything back."Neuheisel said their home of five years may never be saved."I don't want to live in that house again," she said. "You can't tell me that you're going to get all of the mold out of there.""The biggest concern is trying to get rid of the water so people can get back in, so FEMA can even get in and see the houses," said Spring Green emergency management coordinator Jerry Schmidt.Township officials like Schmidt said that they're looking to the state and federal government for the next step in recovery.But residents like Dischler fear that help won't come soon enough."It's just a total mess and it's going to be like this," said Dischler. "I think there'll be ice here and the water will be here.""It's just like we're in limbo here, nobody cares about us," said Blau. "In a normal flood water goes through the house and it's gone within a couple days, but not here."Residents who need help can call Sauk County Emergency Management at 608-355-3200. There is also a flood relief center at the town hall.
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