Milwaukee flood damage into the millions of dollars
The thunderstorm that dumped heavy rain on the city of Milwaukee on Thursday has resulted in over 6,300 homes with damage, totaling nearly $17 million and 92 businesses with damage of $1.5 million. Public buildings sustained roughly $10 million in damage.
The storm resulted in seven inches of rain falling on the city in just two hour’s time, causing the widespread flood damage that has exceeded $28.5 million in Milwaukee County. Jim Doyle, Wisconsin’s governor declared that the county was in a state of emergency Friday, which should pave the way for more state aide as well as assistance from FEMA.
Residents in one of the worst hit areas were voicing their frustration Friday as they worked removing damaged items from their homes. The $122 million flood management project on the north side of the city did indeed help to keep rain from the near-record storm from overflowing the banks of Lincoln Creek. It did not however, stop the rainwater from entering basements. Residents are upset because most in that area did not purchase flood insurance because they had thought that the work that was finished in 2002 at the creek had eliminated the possibility of their homes being flooded. At least five basements collapsed in one city block close to the creek.
Meanwhile, city officials are trying to figure out how quickly they can respond to the over 2,500 calls that poured in from residents reporting backwater filling their basements. The number of calls placed to the city’s Public Works Dept. set a record and the city says it hopes to investigate every one of the complaints over the next few days.
The city is not going to collect any fees for large trash pickup now as the many affected residents remove water soaked furniture and personal belongings from their flooded homes. All parking citations will also be waived due to the fact that many cars were abandoned on city streets as flood waters rushed in. Telltale signs of the flooding can be seen in many parts of the city as residents are piling soaked and soiled household items on curbs, flood restoration company vans are lining the boulevards and garden hoses are snaking from homes to the city streets.
Milwaukee’s Mitchell International Airport had troubles as well as the storm water flooded the runways during the Thursday night storm. Airport personnel worked hard to clear leftover debris so that the runways could open again on Friday, but the possibility of more showers could create further disruptions.
