FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: George Koepp, Fair Board President

work 608-355-3974 (Baraboo High School ag room)

Sauk County Fair Hosts Groups Assisting Flood Victims

BARABOO, WI -- (July 3, 2008) -- South-central Wisconsin flood victims can get some answers at the Sauk County Fair that runs July 7 to 13 at the fairgrounds on Baraboo's east side.  Four groups will have booths at the fair in or near the fairgrounds' Commercial Building and the groups will have people prepared to answer flood-related questions. The groups are: Sauk County Emergency Management, Badger chapter of the American Red Cross, Project Recovery and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). 

FEMA will actually have an entire tent set up outside the Commercial building to assist local residents. It will be set-up by Wednesday evening.

All four organizations will be at the fair until tear-down time at 4 p.m. Sunday.

Project Recovery will provide crisis counseling services to individuals and families. Project Recovery will provide outreach services throughout the community, public education services and information and crisis counseling referral services. 

The American Red Cross Badger chapter responds to 85 to 100 disasters each year in Crawford, Dane, Iowa, Juneau, Lafayette, Richland, Sauk and the City of Lake Mills in Jefferson County. A team of trained volunteers and paid staff help when disaster strikes a family or a community. Although fire is the most frequent disaster, trained Red Cross volunteers respond immediately to explosions, storms, wildfires, tornadoes, floods and a variety of other disasters.

The Sauk County Emergency Management has volunteers ready to assist individuals and communities with clean-up efforts.

Individuals living in counties that receive disaster declarations from FEMA are eligible for aid to help pay for home repair and temporary housing. Homeowners, renters and business owners can contact FEMA at the Fair to see if they are eligible for disaster aid and how to apply.

Walk-in entrance onto the Sauk County Fairgrounds is free. Visiting these four groups or any of the other commercial exhibitors, as well as livestock, 4-H, FFA and other displays is also free. Fees are required for food and beverages, Midway rides and games, and the nightly Grandstand shows.

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