Representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, have begun visiting Milwaukee-area neighborhoods hit hard by the Aug. 9 and 10 storms and flooding. Their visit is potentially a consequential step toward giving cities like Wauwatosa access to federal disaster aid.
The FEMA teams are working in collaboration with state and county emergency management officials to assess the damage from the flooding to determine whether it merits a presidential disaster declaration — as state and local officials say it does.
"These assessments are a critical step in the FEMA process that could lead to federal assistance for residents, but this visit is about verifying the disaster’s impact on our community, not handing out assistance yet," Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley said in an Aug. 21 update on the federal aid process.
"Not every home that reported damage will need an in-person visit, so you do not need to be home for FEMA to complete their work. Additionally, eligibility for any possible future federal assistance is NOT dependent on you speaking with FEMA during this visit."
Wauwatosa was among the communities hit hardest when the storm overnight Aug. 9 dropped torrential rain across the region, flooding its rivers, overwhelming storm sewer systems and filling many commercial and residential basements with water.
About 7 inches of rain fell on Wauwatosa in a 24-hour period, and some of the worst flooding occurred along the banks of the Menomonee River, which rose about 13 feet to flood stage.
More than 500 homes and 50 businesses in Wauwatosa were affected by the flooding, according to the City of Wauwatosa. Since the storms, public works crews have been collecting flood-damaged possessions left on curbs for street-side pickup, and as of early Aug. 21, the city had collected about 500 tons of debris from more than 850 properties.
Residents have until Aug. 24 to move any remaining items ruined by floodwaters to city curbs for pickup. Flood-damaged couches and carpet will be collected, but the following items won't: small electronics, TVs, large gas appliances (such as water heaters), propane tanks, explosive or flammable products, wet or oil-based paint, fluorescent light bulbs, materials from contractors or hazardous waste.
Property owners also are encouraged to report damage to the Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management through 211 or the online damage report form.
