Rock County NEEDS to be Included...

The city won’t be reimbursed unless the area is declared a disaster.

Sheiffer said he asked Mole & Sadler’s residents if they had flood insurance. He estimated that about only 15 percent did.

“It’s really critical to them that we be declared a disaster area,” Sheiffer said.

Sheiffer said benefits that are available to residents are different in every disaster.

The residents likely will be allowed to continue living in their homes if they are structurally sound.

Sometimes, funds are granted to purchase land from homeowners if they want to sell.

“This is going to be a journey,” Sheiffer said.

Fallout will continue within the city government for up to two years, not only with the initial recovery and damage to houses, businesses and public facilities but with the whole question of the flood plain, Sheiffer said.

“We have to be in this for the long haul.”