STOUGHTON, Wis. -- Last week's tornadoes in southern Wisconsin have done damage ringing up to $27 million.

A spokesman for Wisconsin Emergency Management said the figure includes damage to nearly 400 homes and other buildings in Dane, Lafayette, Richland and Sauk counties plus the emergency response costs.

Lori Getter said teams from the Federal Emergency Management Agency are in the area on Monday, assessing the damage for a possible federal disaster declaration from the 26 tornadoes that touched down Thursday.

The National Weather Service on Monday said the fact that only one person died in the tornadoes is a testimonial that a faster, more accurate warning system is saving lives.

Meteorologist Ken Rizzo said the tornado warning for the hardest hit area in Stoughton was issued 20 minutes before the twister hit.

He said that gave people enough time to take cover.

Teamwork has also been a big factor in keeping things manageable.

Hundreds of volunteers streamed into Dane County on Sunday to help residents clean up.

"You don't have a chance to get depressed because you can get out there and help and do things -- even if it's serving coffee or something. It's a way to help that has kept this community together," volunteer Susan Koch said.

Most of the damage occurred around Stoughton, where a tornado killed a man and plowed through a subdivision. More than 60 homes were destroyed in Dane County.

"I heard a big woosh, like a freight train. I stayed until it was quiet. I came out, and my roof and the side of my house was gone," homeowner Susan Meyers said.

The National Weather Service said Monday that a confirmed 24 tornadoes touched down in the state Thursday. That is equal to the previous record of 24 in one day.