Jefferson County to demolish flood-prone houses

Jefferson County on Tuesday got $4.5 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to demolish 28 houses that are at risk of flooding.

The county is tearing down houses located in areas that flooded in 2008. The county identified 77 properties to demolish last year after the floods.

The county will use the federal money, plus $1.5 million from the state of Wisconsin, to demolish 28 houses. The demolition program is intended to remove houses that often get flooded, sending their owners chasing after federal flood-repair grants.