(Jefferson) County flooded with questions

This is an updated daily round-up of news items related to flooding across Jefferson County. It is hoped to provide quick answers to the many questions being asked by flood victims and volunteers alike.

If you would like to announce other important information related to the flood response, call Deb at the Daily Union at 563-5553, extension 209, or e-mail her at dwedl@dailyunion.com.

Where can I get more information?

• For information or assistance due to the floodwaters, contact the Jefferson County Emergency Management at (866) 550-3792.

• Flood Safety and clean-up information is available at the Jefferson County Health Department at (920) 674-7275.

• Visit the Jefferson County website at www.co.jefferson.wi.us/jc/public/jchome.php.

• In Jefferson, residents who need more information on the flooding situation can go to the city’s website at www.jeffersonwis.com, watch cable television public access Channel 19 or contact Jefferson City Hall at (920) 674-7700 or the Jefferson Police Department at (920) 674-7707.

• In Fort Atkinson, surf the Internet to www.fortatkinsonwi.net.

Where can I get food or clothing?

• Jefferson County residents are now eligible to apply for Disaster FoodShare Benefits. Applications may be completed at the Jefferson County Workforce Development Center through July 8. The center is open for applications from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Residents stopping by the center to complete the one-page application should bring a photo identification, proof of home or work address an any information that can be used to estimate their income between June 5 and July 4.

For information on eligibility requirements and benefit levels, applicants may call (920) 675-7500 or visit county’s website www.co.jefferson.wi.us/jc/public/jchome.php.

• Goodwill has donated community program vouchers that can be used by flood victims to obtain items at the Goodwill Store in Fort Atkinson and other south central Wisconsin stores. Vouchers may be obtained as long as they are available at the Jefferson County Workforce Development Center in Jefferson.

Where are the family assistance centers?

• Southern Jefferson County Family Assistance Center is located at 5509 Collins Road in Jefferson, next door to the Family Dollar store. For information or directions, call (920) 674-6890.

• The Northern Jefferson County Family Assistance Center is 758 N. Watertown Ave. in Jefferson; For information or directions, call (920) 674-7611.

• As of Tuesday, the disaster centers will have new hours: Monday through Friday, they will be open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 8 am. to 2 p.m. On Independence Day, July 4, they will be open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Centers have clean-up kits available, water and heater meals (just add water.) People seeking to volunteer can call the assistance center to get a volunteer assignment. Those seeking volunteer assistance should contact the center most accessible to the location of their need.

Where can I get clean-up kits?•

Clean-up kits, water and hygiene kits are available to the public at the Fort Atkinson High School and the City of Watertown Health Department.

• The Red Cross also has water and other miscellaneous grocery items for flood victims at the Fort Atkinson High School, which may be picked up from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Red Cross clean-up kits are available at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Fort Atkinson. Call the church office at (920) 563-2263 for a kit to be set aside and to make arrangements for pickup.

Red Cross clean-up kits contain general cleaning items that might include bleach, a mop, a scrub brush, a large sponge and a bucket.

Where should I report flood damage?

• The FEMA Hotline is 1-800-621-3362. Information needed will include a phone number, address of damaged property, brief description of damage, Social Security number, insurance information if applicable, current mailing address and bank information if seeking direct deposit for assistance funds.

• Producers are encouraged to call the Jefferson County Farm Service Agency to report crop and farm damage at (920) 674-2020.

• In Jefferson, residents experiencing a lot of water or sewage in the basement are asked to contact city hall at (920) 674-7700 or via e-mail at tanya@jeffersonwis.com.

How can I get help from the DAV?

• The National Disabled American Veterans organization has a $500 grant available immediately for qualifying DAV members. Members with flood damage should contact the National Service Officer, Steve Garret, at the Milwaukee National Headquarters by phone at (414) 902-5522, by fax at (414) 902-9401 or by mail at NSO Steve Garrett, VARO Room 162, 5400 W. National Ave., Milwaukee, WI, 53214.

How can I volunteer to help?

• To offer your service as a volunteer, call (920) 674-6890.• Anyone interested in volunteering in the Jefferson flood-relief effort should contact Jefferson City Hall at (920) 674-7700.

Are there emergency assistance loans?

• To assist customers affected by recent flooding throughout Jefferson and Dane counties, Badger Bank is offering an Emergency Assistance Program. Emergency assistance will be provided to its customers living, working or volunteering in counties designated as disaster areas by FEMA.

For Badger Bank customers, the program includes modifications of current loans. In addition, current and future Badger Bank customers may be eligible for Emergency Relief Loans.

Qualifying customers with current loans are eligible to defer payments up to six months on all consumer loans except unsecured lines of credit and “balloon type” loans. With “in-house” real estate loans, short term forbearance will be offered, with situations reviewed on a case by case basis. Fixed rate mortgages are not eligible for this program.

Emergency Relief Loans for up to $15,000 are available to qualifying current and new customers of Badger Bank. These loans have a fixed interest rate of 4.5 percent APR (Annual Percentage Rate) for a one-year term, and a 5 percent APR for a two-year term. To help those in need, the first payment can be deferred for up to six months.

Contact President Jeff Johnson in Jefferson at (920) 674-2406; Vice President Steve Meloy in Johnson Creek at (920) 699-2905; Senior Vice President Glenn Hametta or loan officer Jeremy Cosson in Fort Atkinson at (920) 563-2478; or Vice President Jana Evans in Cambridge at (608) 423-3241.

Badger Bank is located at 220 Grant St. in Fort Atkinson, 102 West Main St. in Cambridge, 540 Village Walk Lane in Johnson Creek, and 1003 South Main St. in Jefferson.

Where can I donate toward flood relief?

• Send a check to the American Red Cross at 401 Madison
Ave., Suite C, Fort Atkinson, WI, 53538. To ensure that your donation goes toward helping our flooding response, include “Local Disaster Relief” in the memo line of the check.

• The Badger Bank Trust Department has opened “Flood Relief Assistance” accounts. Contributions can be designated for certain families or given for general relief. The funds offered as general relief will supplement the overall city’s flood recovery efforts as coordinated with the cities of Fort Atkinson and Jefferson and Town of Koshkonong.

All money will remain in the community designated. Donations to the funds will not be tax deductible. General donations will be held by Badger Bank and a committee of bank officers and city or town representatives will allocate such funds based upon gaps in financial coverage.

For more information, contact Badger Bank at (920) 563-2478. Donations may be made at any Badger Bank location in Jefferson, Fort Atkinson, Cambridge or Johnson Creek or mailed directly to: Attn. Flood Relief, Badger Bank Trust Department, 220 Grant Street, Fort Atkinson, WI, 53538.

• The Jefferson Community Foundation has established a Flood Recovery Fund to assist with flood-related damage and shortages caused by the recent flooding in the City of Jefferson.

The emphasis of the Flood Recovery Fund will be directed toward a community wide impact. Tax-deductible donations may be sent to: Flood Recovery, Jefferson Community Foundation, P.O. Box 81, Jefferson, WI 53549. Questions may be directed to Barbara Mayhew by calling (920) 674-5361.

A committee of citizens will be appointed to make recommendations to the Jefferson Community Foundation Board for distribution of the funds. Requests for funding may be directed to the Foundation address listed above.

Are businesses raising flood-relief funds?• Through July 20, Humphrey Floral and Gift in Fort Atkinson is slated to donate $1 to flood victims for every rose purchased.

• Starting next week, Logo-Works will have “Fort Atkinson flood survivor” T-shirts available to purchase. For each shirt sold, the company will donate $2 to the local American Red Cross chapter.

• Verlo Mattress Factory Store of Fort Atkinson is hosting a fund-raiser event on July 5. Proceeds are slated to be donated to the local relief fund of the American Red Cross. The event will take place in the outlot parking lot of the Creamery Building from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Anyone who would like to participate or who hasquestions about the event should contact Julie Henningfield at (920) 568-3103 or e-mail: jhenningfield@verlo.com.

How do I get rid of damaged furnishings?

• The Town of Jefferson announces extra bulk collections for flood-damaged items.

Officials say it is most important that all flood-damaged items are at the curb the night before or by 6 a.m. at the latest. In most cases the trucks will be coming through on one’s normal collection day, but not the usual time of day, or possibly on a different day.

Please continue to recycle all items that can be recycled. Separating paper, cardboard, etc. from the damaged furniture, etc. Keep recyclable items on a separate pile from bulk garbage items. All items must be in bags, cans or in tied bundles. Collection crews will not be able to pick up loose articles.

Normal bulk collection rules do not include construction material.

For this special collection, the crews will take construction materials if contained in 32 gallon cans that weigh less than 60 pounds (no limit on the number of cans). You may use heavy ply construction bags.

If you can not wait for the regularly scheduled collection, call Johns at 1-888-473-4701 to order special pick-ups at a cost or to order a Dumpster.

The Town of Jefferson will assess the amount of homes needing collection and may schedule extra collection of bulk material for the areas most affected by water damage. Call Don Bigelow at (920) 563-9012.
Check Johns Disposal website for the latest information at www.johnsdisposal.com.

• Special bulk trash collection days in Jefferson are scheduled for Saturday, June 28, and Saturday, July 5.

Flood victims with damaged carpets, furniture, ruined appliances and other bulky trash are asked take that trash to the curb for pick-up as soon as possible. The special bulky trash pickup is for the flooded areas only.

Where do I dump spoiled foods?

• Special Dumpsters for those who lost power and refrigeration in Jefferson are being staged at the Jefferson County Fair Park, the Jefferson Department of Public Works garage and the Green Street parking lot (former Schweiger office building site). These Dumpsters are provided so that flooded residents can drop off spoiled food and other small contaminated items.

Are the floodwaters safe to be around?

• Health officials say people should stay not only out of the water, which is full of bacteria from sewer bypasses, but also keep away from the flooded areas. Gawkers are creating problems by entering the areas when they have no business there.

An E. coli warning reportedly has been issued along the Rock River. Local waterways are filled with contaminants, including oil, gas, propane, raw sewage and numerous other bacteria and chemicals collecting in the water as it moves downstream.

• Residents in potential flooding areas should plug floor drains in their basements to alleviate the potential of a sewer back-up into their home. It also can keep stormwater from draining into the sanitary sewer, which goes to the wastewater treatment plant, if basements flood.

What if there is water in the basement?

• Do not to go into basements or other flooded areas where there could be electric current in the water. Submerged outlets or cords could energize the water and be a lethal trap.

• Call your utility company to disconnect your electricity: Jefferson Utilities (920) 674-7711 or (920) 674-7717; Lake Mills Water & Light (920) 648-4026 or (920) 648-2354; Waterloo Water & Light (920) 478-2260 or (920) 478-2612; or WE Energies (800) 662-4797 or (800) 261-5325.

How do I get power restored to my house?

• If a home’s electrical system was exposed to floodwaters, such as a flooded basement, homeowners should work with a qualified electrical contractor to assess the damage and determine what equipment can be repaired or needs to be replaced.

In Jefferson when repairs are completed, affected residents should contact the Jefferson building inspector (920) 674-7727 for an inspection and then Jefferson Utilities at (920) 674-7711 for reconnection.

What can we do to help curb wastewater?

• Fort Atkinson and Jefferson’s wastewater treatment plant officials are continuing to ask residents to cut their water usage. Residents are being asked to limit the amount of water being used for laundry, dishes and bathing while asking businesses to cut their water use as much as possible.

Where are tetanus shots available?

• The Jefferson County Health Department, in coordination with the City of Jefferson EMS, is offering free tetanus shots at the Jefferson County Health Department, 1541 Annex Road, Jefferson, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Appointments are not necessary and information regarding tetanus vaccines is available by calling the health department at (920) 674-7275 or by visiting the county’s website at www.co.jefferson.wi.us.

Tetanus immunizations are good for 10 years with the following exceptions: a severe wound (5 years), a deep puncture wound (5 years).

So, how high are the rivers?

• The rivers in Jefferson County have been receding steadily since peaking last week.

In Jefferson, the Rock River water gauge showed 13.4 feet this morning, having crested Thursday, June 19 at 15.64 feet, marking the highest level recorded by the National Weather Service office in Sullivan.

Projections show the water levels maintaining their current rate of decline should reach the major flood stage level of 13 feet by Tuesday.

Water levels in Fort Atkinson were recorded at 9.5.

The Rock River peaked Saturday, June 21 at 10.87 feet and, barring any unforeseen deluges, should remain on a decline.

Downstream at Newville on Lake Koshkonong, water levels were recorded at 14.10 feet — still more than two feet above the record flood levels of 1993 when water levels reached 12.23 feet. The lake crested Sunday, June 22 at 15.12 feet.

A flood warning also remained in effect for the Crawfish River at Milford, where the latest gauge reading peaked Tuesday, June 17, at 13.59 feet, over the record levels of 11.15 feet set in April 1959. The river was recorded at 10.22 feet this morning.

The Crawfish River was expected to maintain its decline and should fall below the major flood stage level of 10 feet by Tuesday.

All river forecasts take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected within the next 24 hours.

• Flood levels and forecasts can be monitored at www.crh.noaa.gov/mkx. Scroll down the left-hand side to “Rivers/Hydrology.”

Where can I see flooding photos?

• The Dwight Foster Public Library has established a Flickr photo sharing site to collect photographs and video of the historic flooding in Fort Atkinson. The site is located at www.flickr.com/groups/fortflood. A user account must be established to upload photos or videos.

The photos and videos collected will be part of the historical record for this flood.

Call Amy at the library (920) 563-7790 for more information.

• The Daily Union’s website posts its flooding photos (and other pictures staffers take) on its website at www.dailyunion.com. Simply click on the big blue button.