MADISON, Wis. -- Gov. Jim Doyle and Federal Emergency Management Agency officials met with residents in flood-ravaged Spring Green on Thursday to talk about recovery efforts.

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FEMA officials said that even in the country's largest natural disaster -- Hurricane Katrina -- the water had receded within a month but that's not the case in this Sauk County community.

Three communities in the state are still underwater, including Spring Green, Fort Atkinson and Gays Mills. FEMA inspectors can't go into the homes until the water recedes.

The governor presented potential options for short-term and long-term solutions for the residents in the still-flooded areas, specifically with possible buyouts or relocations of entire communities.

"We're going to work with them so that they really make their decisions on whether they want a buyout of that house and there's a process for that to be done," said Doyle. "Whether they want to as a community, as a neighborhood, try to remain a neighborhood and relocate."

FEMA said a potential buyout is not an immediate fix, adding it's a community decision supported by the state and financed by the federal government, WISC-TV reported.

A FEMA study is looking into the next steps in recovery, but the study could take up to two months to complete.

Many residents in the Prairie View subdivision in the Township of Spring Green said that they want to get a buyout but FEMA said it isn't that easy.

"We want people to understand that they can't simply apply to FEMA to buy their house and get it done now," said FEMA public information officer Mike McCormick. "That's a decision that's made at the community level, it's approved and prioritized by the state using federal money."

"Actually today was very good to have the governor here, to get the attention back to Spring Green because a lot of people like you said the water has gone away and we're still sitting here underwater," said Cheryl Hoeper, a Prairie View resident with flood damage to her home.

Another meeting with FEMA and Emergency Management officials is set for Friday at 1 p.m. at the town hall.

So far, FEMA has given more than $500,000 in relief money to residents in Spring Green, WISC-TV reported.

Additional concerns that Spring Green residents have revolve around farming.

On Friday, Doyle will ask the federal government for USDA disaster relief aid for lost crops, WISC-TV reported.

Meanwhile, Doyle also announced $15 million in federal Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Funds (CDBG) to help communities affected by the June flooding.

"The June flooding has had widespread and devastating impact on citizens and businesses across southern and central Wisconsin, and it is important we direct our resources to the recovery effort," Doyle said. "I've directed (the Department of) Commerce to process requests as expeditiously as possible."

The funds will help low- and moderate-income homeowners and public infrastructure to make structural repairs to homes damaged by flooding that aren't covered by insurance or reimbursed by other federal aid.

Individual communities will determine their needs and the needs of their residents and apply the funding, WISC-TV reported.

Bush Declares Monroe County Disaster Area

President George W. Bush declared Monroe County a disaster area on Wednesday in the aftermath of last month's floods.

The declaration means county residents can apply for government loans and grants to cover costs such as home repair and temporary housing.

Bush has now declared 30 Wisconsin counties eligible for such assistance. Government entities in 27 counties have been declared eligible for federal reimbursement of public infrastructure repairs.

Stay tuned to WISC-TV and Channel 3000 for continuing coverage.