FEMA teams arrive in Dane County

VILLAGE OF MAZOMANIE (WKOW) — We’re continuing to see signs of recovery after the historic flooding back in August.

On Tuesday, FEMA Disaster Service Assistance teams started going door to door in Dane County. They are visiting people who have been affected most by the flooding.

FEMA first went to the Village of Mazomanie. James Olson’s home was on their list.

“I’ve never seen so much rain in all my life,” Olson said.

Olson has lived in the same home in Mazomanie since 1965.

“I think Mazo got the brunt of it,” Olson said.

The flood damage has made the home unlivable, forcing him, his wife and his son, who lived in the basement, to find somewhere else to go.

“He lost everything but the clothes he had on his back,” Olson said, speaking of his son.

Olson was one of the first people FEMA visited.

“I didn’t think they’d come around, to tell you the truth,” Olson said.

Olson has already started construction on his home. There was more than seven inches on his ground floor.

“They came and got us by boat to get out of here,” Olson said.

Olson doesn’t have flood insurance, so he’s paying to repair his home himself.

“Out of my back pocket,” Olson said.

He’s hoping FEMA will help.

“I’m sure we’ll get something but it’s going to take quite awhile,” Olson said. “It all depends how much damage you’ve got, which is a lot here.”

But Olson isn’t alone, others that live on Hudson Street have similar experiences.

“There were a lot of damages along this road so we’re talking to survivors, making sure they’re registered,” said Linda Brown with FEMA’s Disaster Survivor Assistance Program.

Registration is the first step to get emergency financial help.

There are three ways to register:

Call FEMA at 1-800-3362
Register online, here
Go to the Disaster Recovery Center when it opens.

There is no timetable for when FEMA will be finished helping people in the community. Right now, they are preparing to be in Dane County for at least 21 days.