After days of depressing storm news, the state's weather fortunes appear to be improving.

State emergency officials have been keeping an eye on dozens of dams and high-water rivers, some that prompted calls for evacuations in areas such as Columbia and Fond du Lac counties.

Authorities said rivers in both areas appeared to be receding, good news for residents who fled to local shelters.

Five counties will also be eligible for federal relief money after President Bush declared them federal disasters. They are Columbia, Crawford, Vernon, Sauk and Milwaukee counties.

Federal authorities are still doing damage assessments in other counties. Governor Doyle has said he'll ask for two dozen more counties to be included once those assessments are done.