REEDSBURG, Wis. -- Reedsburg is set to receive a little more than $1.5 million in federal aid to help it recover from flooding a year ago and buy out condemned properties.

It's one of 34 Wisconsin communities that will share about $39 million in federal dollars to help pay for the damage caused by last year's floods.

Reedsburg suffered $1.6 million in damage during last year's flooding. Dozens of homes were damaged and 19 were destroyed.

For a year, more than a dozen residents in Reedsburg have been out of their homes and waiting for a permanent decision on their properties.

Mary Curtain is one of the flood victims whose home was destroyed by flooding. Her house on Granite Avenue was her home for 17 years, until everything changed on June 9, 2008.

"I woke up at 2:30 (a.m.), and my house was surrounded with water," Curtain said. "It was horrible, horrible."

Curtain and several neighbors were rescued by boat.

And you just don't think. I didn't think. I put a few things up but I didn't think to put things up or anything. I think I was just numb," Curtain said.

Two businesses were also ruined by the flooding.

The city now wants to buy the structures out and tear them down, a process that won't begin until the city gets financial help.

"Any money we get from the state is just going to be passed through and we will get it out as quickly as possible to the residents. Those who have their claims in are going to benefit," said John Dougherty, Reedsburg City Administrator.

Curtain said she is frustrated with the slow process. She said, to make things worse, vandals are targeting her abandoned house and breaking all of the windows.

"The house is condemned, but it makes you very angry to think that they have the right to go in there and wreck everything," Curtain said.

For now, Curtain said she will continue to stop by the house to check on things that like her deck, a gift for Mother's Day, and a tree that was planted in memory of her husband. In the end, Curtain said she is hoping for closure.

"I'll sure be glad to get it off my mind, (and) get it over with," she said.

The city said the $1.6 million of damage only includes the 19 homes and two businesses condemned. There wasn't much damage to public facilities.

The city said it plans to use the federal aid announced Tuesday toward the buyout process. The city's recovery plans include tearing down the 19 homes and two businesses and prohibiting future development on the properties.

The city is also trying to communicate better with residents using weather radios. The radios are $25 and are available at the City Hall and the police department.