Brad Koenig

Dear Friends and Volunteers of Jefferson County WI Habitat for Humanity,

On September 13, 2008, Modern Woodman's Insurance Company is sponsoring an event at Fort Atkinson High school's beautiful auditorium on behalf of Jefferson County Habitat for Humanity, and has offered to match up to $2,500 for every dollar raised!

The event is a dinner and show which features "Tony Rocker and the Come Back Special Band" and a pasta buffet provided by Capn's Catering. Tony is an award winning Elvis Tribute Artist who in January of 2004 won 3^rd place at the "Midwest Tribute to the King Contest". Capn's Catering is known throughout Jefferson County for their quality, fabulous catering menu. We are pleased that both the Tony Rocker and Come Back Special Band, and Capn's Catering have agreed to provide their creative talent and services to help Modern Woodman's raise money for this event.

Advanced Tickets are $45 for VIP seating, $35 Preferred seating, $30 Standard seating

After September 1: $50 VIP seating, $40 Preferred seating, $35 Standard seating

All tickets include dinner and beverages.

Call Rick or Mary Olson for more details or tickets at (920) 563-9405 or

Jefferson County Habitat for Humanity (920) 397-736

Come out and enjoy an evening of fabulous food, great entertainment, an atmosphere suitable for the entire family, and the satisfaction of knowing that every dollar raised will be used to build the next Habitat for Humanity home in Jefferson County. This means that you will help a deserving, low-income family achieve the dream of homeownership. Dinner, show, and helping those less fortunate all for under $50! How could one go wrong?

Thank you so much of your time and support of Habitat for Humanity. Hope to see you there!

Please be careful when traveling around the county. Many roads are closed. Here is a map of the closed roads in the county. http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&gl=us&ptab=2&ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=110196816935266860667.00044fca0ef031d839458&ll=43.016697,-88.308792&spn=0.373521,0.559616&z=11Please keep everyone in the flooded areas in your hearts and prayers. Many areas are looking for volunteers to help fill sand bags. If you can spare a few hours that would be great

CURRENT FLOOD INFORMATION

Closed County Trunk Highways

Wisconsin Emergency Government - 2008 Flood Information for the Public
Includes DOT incident alerts, Red Cross shelter information and resources for residents affected by severe storms and flooding as well as sandbag disposal guidance.

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources - Current Flood Information
Includes dam updates, statewide road closures and managing debris and waste after the flood.

Waukesha County Flood Safety Guide - Includes topics: water, hygiene and sanitation, food, sewer and wastewater, injury prevention and mold.

The following links provide information about the Disaster Declaration process and federal disaster assistance available to individuals and municipalities:

• A Guide to the Disaster Declaration Process and Federal Disaster Assistance
• The Disaster Assistance Process for Individuals
• Individual Assistance Program
• Public Assistance Program

COPING WITH FLOODING

Major floods in Wisconsin tend to occur either in spring when melting snow adds to normal runoff or in summer or early fall after intense rainfalls. Flooding can occur after a slow build-up of water causes a river or stream to overflow its banks, or it can occur very rapidly with little notice.

Floods can cause loss of life and severe damage to homes, buildings, crops, and roads. Owners of homes in flood prone areas should purchase flood insurance protection for their homes through an insurance agent. Buying flood insurance to cover the value of a building and its contents will not only provide greater peace of mind, but will also speed recovery if a flood occurs. You can call 1-888-FLOOD29 (1-888-356-6329) to learn more about flood insurance.

If your home is damaged during a flood, you need to be concerned with the structural integrity of the home, electrical safety, food safety, removal and prevention of mold and mildew, and removal and replacement of your home's damaged contents. You should contact your insurance agent to discuss claims and listen to local media outlets for information about assistance the federal or state government or other organizations may be offering.

Basic Safety Tips for Clean-up

• Always wear waterproof gloves and boots while cleaning a flood-damaged house.
• Never turn on a wet electric appliance. Be careful before using any electrical appliance in a flood-damaged house.
• Throw out fresh or frozen food that has come into contact with floodwater.
• Thoroughly disinfect food contact sources, such as dishes, countertops, refrigerators, and pantry shelves.
• Remove wall-to-wall carpet and padding that has been saturated with floodwater.

FLOOD CLEAN UP
A twenty-page booklet and poster (in Spanish and English) are available online from the EPA that give simple instructions for Safely cleaning your home after a flood.

For much more detailed information about how to clean, disinfect and repair your flooded home, the American Red Cross and FEMA have prepared a 56 page booklet Repairing Your Flooded Home (in Spanish and English).

Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services Flooding Health and Safety Tips

Federal Communicable Diseases Center (CDC) link to Flood Clean-up Instructions and Potential Hazards

WATER WELLS and SAMPLING
If you are concerned that a flood may have affected your private well, you can get a water test collection kit from the Environmental Health Division several ways:

1. Call (262) 896-8300 to order a kit using your Visa/MasterCard.
   Cost $20.00 + $2.00 postage and handling = $22.00
   
   
2. Mail a check with your return address (payable to "Waukesha County") to Environmental Health Division, 515 W. Moreland Blvd., Room AC 260, Waukesha, WI 53188.
   Cost $20.00 + $2.00 postage and handling = $22.00
   
   
3. Pick up a kit at our office during regular hours, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the address above.
   Cost $20.00

If your water sample analysis result is unsafe, the Waukesha County Environmental Health Division will resample your water supply and inspect the visible well construction. Any pump installation deficiencies will require correction.

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Recommendations for Wells submerged in floodwaters.

PREPARING FOR A FLOOD
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) information on How to be prepared in case of a flood.

Please be careful when traveling around the county. Many roads are closed. Here is a map of the closed roads in the county. http://www.jeffersoncountywi.gov/UserFiles/Wisconsin/MAP%20Road%20Closures%206-16-2008.pdf

Please keep everyone in the flooded areas in your hearts and prayers. Many areas are looking for volunteers to help fill sand bags. If you can spare a few hours that would be great

Flood Assistance & Information
Cities of Jefferson & Fort Atkinson
Please use these tips for minimal water usage
Do not pump water into drains. Thank you!

I-94 west bound may re-open at the end of the week

Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
Ph.(920) 674-7450 FAX (920) 674-7517
Press Releases
June 14,2008
June 16, 2008
June 17,2008

Flood Pictures

Jefferson County and City Government Facility Info
Suggested Routes to Jefferson Facilities
Suggested Routes from Jefferson Facilities

Road Closure List

Additional Road Closures as of 7:00 p.m. June 17th

Highway 106 West is closed from Fort Atkinson to CTH A
Jefferson Street in Fort Atkinson is closed between Lorman Street & Cramer Street

(920) 674-8648 (800) 762-3947
I-94 Westbound is closed between Highway 83 in Waukesha and Highway 89 in Lake Mills

Jefferson County Road Closure Map

State Road Closures

National Weather Service
Water Level Prediction

Protecting Structures with Sand Bags
Lineal feet needed to be bagged x 12
divided by 20 = number of bags needed per level.

Sand Bags Available
6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Jefferson County Parks Shop and Jefferson County Highway Shop.
6:00 p.m. - 6:00 a.m.
Jefferson Police Station and at the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.

FEMA
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Damage hotline to report damage from flooding
920-674-8695

State of Wisconsin
Press Release

Health Department
(920) 674-7275
Mosquito Bite Protection
Tips for coping with floods
Flood Safety Information
Red Cross
Mold Prevention and Clean Up
Foods, Medicines, Cosmetics...When in doubt, throw it out

Shelter Information
(920) 563-3055
Dog & cat food is available at the shelter for people affected by the flooding.
Clean-up kits and bottled water available to the public at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds.
Clean-up kits, water and hygiene kits available to the public at the Red Cross Shelter in Fort Atkinson.

Sheriff's Department
(920) 674-7310
Slow - No Wake

Farm Service Agency needs crop damage reported to 920-674-2020.

For more info go to http://www.jeffersoncountywi.gov/jc/public/jchome.php

Housing market update

‘Sound underwriting and, for that matter, simple common sense suggests that a mortgage lender would almost always want to verify the income of a riskier subprime borrower,' Comptroller of the Currency John C. Dugan said in a speech. ‘But the norm appears to be just the opposite,' said Dugan, whose agency regulates nationally chartered banks. ‘Nearly 50 percent of all subprime loans last year accepted stated income,' meaning the underwriters did not verify the information provided by borrowers on loan applications.' Dugan cited a Mortgage Asset Research Institute study that found 90 percent of borrowers reported incomes higher than those found on file with the Internal Revenue Service and almost 60 percent of the stated incomes were exaggerated by more than 50 percent. Another survey of more than 2,100 mortgage brokers, reported by Inside Mortgage Finance, found that 43 percent of mortgage brokers who use low-documentation loan products know their borrowers cannot qualify under standard debt-to-income ratios.'

However, the loose practices seem to be disappearing due to the fact that no one wants mortgage-backed securities anymore without solid investigation of borrowers being done:

"David Lowman, CEO of JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s global mortgage business, said, ‘35 percent of what once could be done, can no longer be done,' referring to mortgage loan products that have effectively been taken off the shelves...Duane LeGate, president of House Buyer Network, a specialist in short sales and foreclosure prevention, said one of the real estate agents he works with had six deals blow up within four days because, ‘The loan originator told him, ‘We're not offering [these products] anymore.' According to LeGate, this kind of thing just started to happen in the past month or so. ‘Anything that smacks of no-income and no-documentation is history,' said Allen Hardester, director of business development for mortgage broker Guaranteed Rate. ‘Anything above 85 percent to 90 percent loan-to-value, anything non-owner occupied, anything ludicrous as to value, like someone stepping up from a $1,000 a month payment to a $6,000 a month, is history.'"

Tidbits from the Housing Bubble blog:

I was at a class on short sales and avoiding foreclosure yesterday. I thought I new something but walked out of this seminar with some new knowledge.

I will be creating a website http://www.avoidwisconsinforeclosure.com/ to help out wisconsin families.

A short sale is where you are asking the lender or lenders to take less to satisfy the mortgage. Most banks are acceptable with this procedure because they don't want to own the property after a sheriff sale.

Read this article on news from Fannie Mae on short sales

http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20080411_investorreport.htm