Some 35,000 to 40,000 states considering plan to buy flood-zone property from homeowners . Residents who qualify could sell to states or communities . Wisconsin Emergency Management would pick up Friday of the cost . Weeks after flooding devastated farmland and homes in the Midwest , officials in five states said Friday that initial steps are under way for possible buyouts of property in flood zones . Program could apply to Illinois , Missouri , Wisconsin , Iowa and Illinois .
Some 35,000 to 40,000 states considering plan to buy flood-zone property from homeowners . Residents who qualify could sell to states or communities . Wisconsin Emergency Management would pick up Friday of the cost . Program could apply to Illinois , Missouri , Wisconsin , Iowa and Illinois .