Gov. Tony Evers declared a state of emergency Aug. 11 in the aftermath of widespread flooding in the Milwaukee area caused by the overnight storm Aug. 9 that brought torrential rains.
The declaration came after Evers visited Wauwatosa and Milwaukee and spoke to local officials and residents who are dealing with the aftermath of the flooding. His stops included a visit to Tosa Village, where the Menomonee River rose 13 feet in six hours and turned most of Hart Park temporarily into wetland.
The rain also overwhelmed public drainage systems and flooded many residents' basements. Tosa residents have begun putting flood-damaged items on curbs to be hauled away in the city's weeklong special waste pickup.
"I’m declaring a state of emergency to help Wisconsinites and communities across our state recover from severe storms and flooding," Evers said in social media posts later in the day. "Tonight, I visited Wauwatosa and Milwaukee to see local storm and flooding damage firsthand and meet with some of the folks impacted. I am grateful to the first responders, emergency response officials, and neighbors helping neighbors who are all working to rebuild and recover together."
State Rep. Robyn Vining (D-Wauwatosa) accompanied Evers during his visit to the city.
"My gratitude to Governor Evers for joining us in Wauwatosa this evening to survey the devastating storm damage, and meet with business owners who faced losses, as well as city leaders and staff, and our first responders," Vining said.
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley also declared a state of emergency in the county in a message issued a day earlier. “The proclamation of an emergency empowers emergency management personnel to deploy additional resources, activate state and federal partners to assist with our efforts on the ground, and help people as swiftly as possible,” the county said in announcing the declaration.
Crowley also joined Evers during his visit to Tosa, making a stop at the city's fire headquarters, according to Vining.
Get additional Tosa Forward News coverage of the 2025 flood here.
