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Municipal officials from throughout Vernon County gathered at the courthouse in Viroqua, Wednesday afternoon, to share their initial estimates of flood damage in their areas.

All told, the officials reported at least $6.5 million in damage, mainly to roads and municipal buildings. The damage was caused by flooding that resulted from nine inches of rain that fell June 6-7. Most of the Kickapoo River watershed had heavy flooding.

The $6.5 million amount is figured to grow sharply as it doesn’t include private property damage or estimates from areas where flood waters have not receded n such as the village of Readstown. It also doesn’t include county damage estimates, which were still in the process of being made. Additional damage has been reported at a number of the county’s 22 flood control dams.

Jerry Crotsenberg, Vernon County’s Emergency Management Director, said the meeting was necessary to prepare for a visit from officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, who were expected on Thursday. “We’re just looking for ballpark figures for damage to municipalities,” Crotsenberg said. “We will compile information then take them to the areas where we have the most major damage.”

Rhonda Reynolds from the Wisconsin Emergency Management Department of Military Affairs said the FEMA visit may consist of only one person.

“This is just an initial visit that will include the official from FEMA being taken to different areas in the county by county officials and being shown some of the worst damage,” Reynolds said. “That will all be compiled in a report that will eventually be part of the information the President considers when determining if there is to be a federal emergency declaration.”

Beth Campbell, the village clerk in Viola, said the village sustained about $1.5 million in damage during the flooding. She said 200 homes were affected. The village of La Farge reported having 25 homes with major damage, which means flooding on the first floor. A damage total for La Farge wasn’t complete, but six municipal buildings sustained damage totaling at least $100,000. Also, about 25 homes in La Farge had major damage. The village of Ontario reported $150,000 in total damage, Mark Smith, the village president, said. Kevin Knoll, the chief of the Ontario Fire Department said there was at least $500,000 in damage to driveways in the fire district.

Many towns had damage to roads. The highest estimate came from the town of Clinton at $600,000. Other towns with high totals for road damage included Whitestown $450,000, Bergen $300,000, Christiana $300,000, Jefferson $265,000, Harmony $250,000, Webster $225,000 and Genoa $200,000.

While flood waters cut off Hwy. 162 in Chaseburg, that village reported amongst the lowest damage estimates in the county at $25,000. The reason? The residences that had been flooded in 2007 were largely not reoccupied.

Crotsenberg asked people involved in cleaning up their homes or businesses to take photographs of the damage before beginning. This will help later if FEMA aid is granted. Also the Red Cross had home clean-up kits available at shelters in operation in Ontario, La Farge, Viola, Readstown and Viroqua.

As the meeting came to a close at 3:30 p.m., rain began to fall again in Viroqua.