In a matter of only a few hours, storms late June 18 and early June 19 dumped between two to six and a half inches of rain throughout portions of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County. One observer in the 5th Aldermanic District recorded a rainfall total of 4.22 inches during the storms, and in the 5th District alone there were 63 reports of flooded basements, and a total of more than 650 similar reports citywide.
Alderman Bohl said he requested the information-sharing public testimony to try to find answers to questions about what happened during and after those destructive storms. “Short of a fire or tornado, there’s nothing worse for a homeowner than a flooded basement,” Alderman Bohl said. “The danger and damage they cause and the hassle of cleaning up what’s left behind is something you never forget.”
“I hope residents will watch the video provided here from that meeting, and click on the Power Point presentation and other documents to learn more about how and why flooded basements occur, and how homeowners can take measures to minimize or even prevent basement flooding in the first place,” he said.
If you or someone you know experiences a flooded basement caused by a sewer back up, please first call 286-CITY(2489) -- the one-stop number for people who need service or information from DPW. DPW can then respond and inspect the area to see if the main sewer line is clogged. If it’s determined that the main sewer is not clogged, then the property owner may call a plumber to look into what’s causing the problem.