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Federal Emergency Management Agency Director R. David Paulison led the contingent, making stops in hard-hit Gays Mills in Crawford County and at Goose Island south of La Crosse.
He declined Friday to predict whether the region would gain disaster area status, saying only that “I saw a lot of damage. Let’s put it that way.”
Damage assessment teams are expected to fan out today in five flood-ravaged counties — La Crosse, Vernon, Crawford, Richland and Sauk — said Donna Gilson, a spokeswoman for Wisconsin Emergency Management.
Paulison said he expected preliminary assessment work to be completed this weekend.
Local emergency management personnel said that can’t happen quickly enough.
“The sooner we get that assessment done and over with,” said La Crosse County Emergency Management Director Keith Butler, “the sooner the potential for the underinsured and (uninsured) to get the assistance they need.”
Damage assessments are a crucial step toward gaining a disaster area designation and federal aid.
“We’re certainly hopeful that will be the outcome,” Gilson said. “I think we’re expecting it to be.”
Gov. Jim Doyle sent FEMA a request Thursday to push disaster relief for southwestern Wisconsin into high gear.
State Rep. Jennifer Shilling, D-La Crosse, wrote to FEMA’s regional office in Chicago with similar insistence.
“Countless lives have been devastated by this disaster, and hundreds of people are in dire need of assistance,” Shilling wrote.
Linda Nederlo, public information officer for Vernon County Emergency Management, said the rapid response in neighboring Minnesota is a good sign.
A presidential disaster declaration would clear the way for FEMA aid such as temporary housing assistance, low-interest loans to repair or replace property, grants to meet any disaster-related needs and expenses not covered by insurance.
“The $28,000 that we can give is not going to make them whole again,” Paulison said, referring to the $28,200 amount each household can receive in total assistance. “But it will help them get back on their feet.”
That money is crucial for Wisconsin’s underinsured flood victims, Butler said. “The extent of damage is far greater than (home and small business owners) could be expected to pay for.”
Samantha Marcus can be reached at (608) 791-8220 or smarcus@lacrossetribune.com.
