LaVALLE -- At Fish 's Bar & Grill, the losses will be measured by the ounce and total more than $40,000.

At Village Hair Designs in this village 's downtown, the mud has been scraped from the salon 's floor, but it 's unclear if hair will ever be swept from it again.

And in the home that Earl and Ramona Demaskie have owned for 44 years, frustration loomed Thursday as the couple cleaned their basement and began drying hundreds of soaked photographs.

Bring up the topic of flood insurance in this village about 60 miles northwest of Madison and be prepared for some strong reactions.

"There 's not too many happy people, " said Tad Driefke, who was sipping a Bud Light and helping with the cleanup at Fishy 's. "It 's a sad deal. "

It 's been seven years since this village along the Baraboo River in northwestern Sauk County has been a part of the National Flood Insurance Program. Now many, unaware of the absence of the program that could provide federal flood aid, are angry. They 're also hoping the village can retroactively get back into the program.

Much of the village 's downtown was flooded this week after heavy rains pushed water over the river 's banks. Now, many are wondering how they will pay for flood damage not covered by their regular insurance.

For Jim Fish and his partner, Natalie Scarborough, the flood insurance they purchased when they bought the bar three years ago was required to get financing. Turns out, it 's only limited coverage and will do little to offset the thousands of dollars in losses the flood has caused at their bar on the west side of the village 's downtown.

"There must be some fine print in there, " said Fish, who hopes to open his bar next week and the kitchen in about two weeks. "Hopefully it covers something. It 's terrible. "

They are scheduled to meet with an insurance adjuster today but have already applied for a Menards card and plan to use other credit cards to help finance the reconstruction of interior walls and to purchase new kitchen equipment. They 're hoping friends will volunteer their help to save on labor costs.

"We 're pretty frustrated, " said Scarborough. "It 's hard to see your bar like this. "

Just a few blocks to the east, Ann Zobel has owned her hair salon for 23 years. She 's never had water problems and is unsure if her business will reopen. Two feet of water filled the inside beginning Monday. On Thursday, Zobel and her friends and co-workers began gutting the interior and assessing which equipment could be salvaged.

The salon 's washer and dryer and piles of broken drywall and insulation filled a dump truck parked behind the business, which has four chairs. It 's unclear if the hydraulic chairs will need to be replaced.

"My heart goes out for everyone, " said Zobel, 58, who is unsure if she 'll be able or even want to get a loan to rebuild the business. "I can 't have a 20-year note. "

Local contractor Al Ribbke, who was helping Zobel with her cleanup, said the losses will be difficult for many to absorb.

"It 's going to be a major blow to some people, " Ribbke said.

Ramona Demaskie, like many others, was unaware that she and her husband would not be eligible for federal assistance. The couple, who had water come through drains and a toilet in their basement, estimate their losses at up to $10,000.

"I never gave it any thought, " said Romona Demaskie of the nonexistent insurance program, as she pulled photos from plastic storage bins that had been submersed in water. "I just thought it was a done deal. I never thought of it. "