REEDSBURG, Wis. -- Sauk County residents are the first storm and flooding victims in the state to begin the process of receiving federal disaster assistance.

VIDEO: Watch The ReportThe Federal Emergency Management Agency's first Disaster Recovery Center opened on Monday in Reedsburg. State Emergency Management officials said that centers in the other declared emergency counties are expected to open, but those locations haven't been decided yet.

But, the news for those living in communities that aren't covered by the Federal Emergency Management's Agency's National Flood Insurance Program continues to change.

According to Dolph Diemont, FEMA's top official in Wisconsin, if uninsured communities rejoin the NFIP within the next six months, their residents will become eligible for the same kind of emergency disaster relief now being sought by so many others. They wouldn't get retroactive flood insurance coverage but would become eligible for all kinds of low-interest loans and grants, he said.

In Reedsburg on Monday, the curbs were piled high with residents' water-logged belongings as they headed around the corner to seek the federal government's help in starting over.

About 25 people showed up in the first hour alone to register and start the process of seeing what kind of grants and/or loans they might qualify for. Inspectors could start arriving in three to seven days.

Imogene Hudzinski, of Wisconsin Dells, was one of the first in line as FEMA opened its first Disaster Recovery Center inside Reedsburg High School's gym.

Hudzinski said that she had four feet of water in her basement.

"My washer and dryer, they were floating when I first went down in my basement," she said.

Hudzinski and other Sauk County victims lined up to start the registration process for federal aid, either in the form of grants or low-interest loans, or both, WISC-TV reported.

While top brass from FEMA and state emergency officials dropped by to mark the occasion, dozens of homeowners and renters sat in chairs or met one-on-one with FEMA workers who've traveled in from around the country.

"Well, I'm hoping that they will help me replace my furnace ... that is my major concern," Hudzinski said.

She said that she has no flood insurance and homeowners insurance won't cover the damage.

FEMA workers are encouraging people to come to the center to see what aid they qualify for.

Rebecca Morales, FEMA public information officer, said that her colleagues' role is to give people a helping hand.

"What we're here for is to get people back on their feet and ... to cover their basic needs," she said.

The opening of the center coincides with President George W. Bush's decision to expand the federal disaster area declaration to two more flood-ravaged portions of Wisconsin. He has declared Richland and Racine counties as disaster areas, which join Columbia, Crawford, Milwaukee, Sauk and Vernon counties. Those counties were declared disasters during the weekend.

The designation frees up federal aid, including grants and low-interest loans.

Backed by the federal disaster declaration, FEMA workers want to facilitate damage inspections and then aid, officials said.

Workers with the federal agency urge people to register first by phone or online before they come to the center.

Jerry Luther, of Rock Springs, said that he lost the first floor of his house after he and his family were stranded by high waters.

"We were stranded for four days," he said.

Flooding in his hometown left Luther and his family stressed out after they stayed up bagging for three-days straight. They even had to have supplies brought in through the woods on four-wheelers by friends, he said.

Now, they're hoping a loan or grant will help them recover their estimated $60,000-70,000 loss.

Homeowners like Luther who need to rebuild can seek low-interest, long-term loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Tom Nocera, of SBA, said that homeowners can get some funds depending on their situation.

"(They can get) up to $200,000 to rebuild their homes ... $40,000 to replace personal property, or the equity they had in a car that my have been lost in the floods," he said.

Hudzinski said that she's now waiting to hear back on when teams will inspect her home.

"It really just depends on when they get my application and when they can get someone to my house," she said.

Grants of more than $28,800 per person are available, but residents won't get anything if they don't file an application with the SBA even if they don't want a loan, WISC-TV reported.

People living in those counties wanting to register for relief can call 1-800-621-3362, or 1-800-462-7585 for the hearing impaired. They can also go online to FEMA's Web site.

Interstate 94, Other Roadways Remain Closed

As Wisconsin residents continue to try to dry out this week, flooding is still causing some road closures. Authorities are warning drivers to expect detours and delays in some areas.

Interstate 94 westbound is closed from Highway 83 to Highway 89, which is between Delafield and Lake Mills. The detour goes from Delafield south to almost Beloit, then north on Interstate 39/90 to Madison.

However, I-90/94 between Madison and Wisconsin Dells is now open in both directions. That section of the roadways was shut down on Friday morning.

In the Portage area, Interstate 39 is closed in both directions from Highway 78 to Highway 16.

Traffic is rerouted through Portage.

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