Last year’s record-breaking rains caused severe flooding throughout Milwaukee County that left residents with ruined cars, spoiled food, damaged homes and a difficult cleanup process.
During the initial crisis, emergency responders answered hundreds of rescue calls in a matter of hours. Fire departments worked to keep people safe and housing coordinators worked to accommodate those left without a home.
But for many households, the real challenge began after the floodwaters receded.
Now, community leaders and volunteers say Milwaukee has entered a new phase: long-term recovery.
“We refer to it as long-term recovery because it’s what happens after the immediate response ends,” said Natalie Meier, coordinator for the Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management. “It’s about getting people back to where they were before the floods, if not stronger and more resilient.”
A community-led effort
The recovery effort is being run by a collaboration of faith-based groups, nonprofits, volunteers and government partners.
One key partner is the United Methodist Committee on Relief, or UMCOR, which is helping coordinate disaster case management and volunteer rebuilding teams.
According to Alice Franks-Gray, director of response and recovery for UMCOR Wisconsin, volunteers have traveled from neighboring states to help Milwaukee homeowners clean out basements, remove mold and conduct repairs.
“We’re going to stay,” Franks-Gray said. “Recovery from a disaster like this can take years, not weeks or months.”
Thousands of open cases
In the immediate aftermath of the storm, residents were directed to call 211 to report damage. Those reports were entered into Crisis Cleanup, a national disaster-response database.
More than 7,000 cases were logged, and more than 5,000 cases are still open.
Meier said that doesn’t necessarily mean thousands of basements are still full of water. But it does signal widespread need.
The greatest needs now include home repairs, furnaces and water heaters damaged by flooding, recurring mold and assistance from losses.
Heavy rain forced Sabrena Henderson and her family out of their home.
“We just had to get out right away,” Henderson said, recalling the moment water overtook their rental home. “We lost basically everything.”
Though the Hendersons are stable now, the family’s housing situation became a patchwork of temporary stays following the floods. They spent two weeks in an Airbnb and a weekend at her sister’s home before securing a more permanent place.
“We bounced around a little before we got settled,” she said. “But thank God we had some savings between me and my husband.”
Volunteers discovered a man who had been living without hot water for months, Franks-Gray said. Another homeowner was heating his home with a gas stove after flood damage knocked out much of his electrical system, a dangerous workaround that could have turned deadly.
“This has become a bit of a game of hide-and-seek,” Franks-Gray said. “Most of the damage is hidden inside homes that look completely normal from the outside.”
Filling critical roles
Support from additional staff is needed to support the recovery effort. UMCOR is seeking disaster case managers, a construction coordinator and community liaisons. They hope to hire people who live in and reflect the neighborhoods most impacted.
“It’s not my recovery,” Franks-Gray said. “It has to be community based and community driven.”
Henderson said applying for assistance was a complicated and discouraging process that included requests for duplicate receipts, appeal letters and detailed documentation about basement floodwater levels.
“Sometimes it feels like they want you not to fight for it,” Henderson said
Disaster case managers will help residents appeal FEMA denials, navigate insurance claims and access available resources.
If you or anyone you know are interested in roles you can email ERT@wisconsinumc.org.
Moving forward
Volunteers are now distributing mold remediation spray and providing education on safe cleanup practices. More pop-up distribution events are planned at community centers.
Recovery leaders say one of the most important steps now is simple: talk to your neighbors.
“If your basement flooded, chances are others on your block were impacted, too,” Franks-Gray said. “Especially elderly residents who may not ask for help.”
The long-term recovery group at UMCOR is developing a community navigator training program to equip volunteers to recognize needs and connect residents to resources.
Organizers also said that rebuilding teams are expected to ramp up this spring, with volunteer crews ready to hang drywall, repair electrical systems and restore damaged basements.
“This was a historic rain event,” Meier said. “There simply wasn’t a ready-made wheel for disaster relief on this scale. We’re building it together.”
If you’re a part of a group that wants UMCOR to distribute mold remediation spray in your community, you can email Lisa Jones at ERT@wisconsinumc.org.
Here is what you can do if you’re still impacted by the August floods.
Jonathan Aguilar is a visual journalist at Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service who is supported through a partnership between CatchLight Local and Report for America.
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