In Article VIII of the U.S. Constitution

I know that the floods have been bad and that there are a lot of people in dire straits, but when did it become the assumed duty of the federal government to clean up the mess?  I can understand when there is a widespread disaster like a massive hurricane, earthquake, nuclear disaster, etc.that would overwhelm any state, but at this point we’re talking about $31 million in estimated damages.  $18 million of that is in private property that is hopefully insured.  Are you telling me that the State of Wisconsin isn’t prepared to handle $13 million in damaged infrastructure?  Even if we decide to help our the private folks, do we really need to go hat in hand to the federal government for $31 million? 

That just seems pathetic to me and a sad admission that the states have ceded all power and authority to the federal government.