When Milwaukee’s Streets Turn Into Rivers: Your Essential Guide to Flash Flood Safety

Milwaukee residents know their city is built on water—with three rivers and 10 miles of Great Lakes shoreline—but the devastating August 2025 floods that dumped record-setting rainfall and represented a thousand-year flood event served as a stark reminder that urban flooding can strike without warning. Over 46,000 households were impacted, with $76 million in estimated damages, making flash flood preparedness more critical than ever for Milwaukee residents.

Understanding Milwaukee’s Urban Flooding Risk

As a city defined by its waterways that has become increasingly urbanized, Milwaukee is prone to flooding. The combination of aging infrastructure, increased rainfall patterns, and urban development creates perfect storm conditions. The floods were the culmination of a long-term increasing precipitation trend in the southern half of Wisconsin—up 17% since 1950.

Record rainfall in the Greater Milwaukee area resulted in life-threatening flash flooding, with MMSD receiving over 1,100 reports of water backing up into basements and 14 areas receiving seven inches or more of rain in 24 hours. These statistics underscore why every Milwaukee resident needs a flood safety plan.

Critical Safety Measures During Flash Floods

When flash flooding strikes, your safety depends on quick, informed decisions. Stay out of floodwater—it may have sewage, chemicals, or trash. Never walk or drive through floodwater. This simple rule can save your life, as at least two people drowned while the region was affected by flooding, both from a homeless encampment located under a bridge that spanned the Kinnickinnic River.

Essential safety protocols include:

• Refrain from driving, unless in the case of an emergency. If you need to drive, do not drive on flooded streets.
• Never drive through standing or moving water. Even shallow water can disable your vehicle or cause loss of control. Turn around, don’t drown.
• If you see downed wires, stay at least 30 feet away and call emergency services immediately.
• To reduce the risk of wastewater backing up into the basements of homes and businesses, limit water usage by holding off on washing dishes and laundry and taking shorter showers.

Basement Flooding: Immediate Response

Basement flooding is one of the most common issues Milwaukee residents face during heavy rainfall events. Do not walk into standing water. Floodwater can be contaminated with sewage, chemicals, harmful bacteria, and other dangerous debris. Unless you are positive your electricity is turned off, do NOT touch any water. You can become electrocuted.

Wait for the water to drain out of the basement before entering. Or, call a qualified electrician to disconnect the power before you enter a flooded basement. When it’s safe to begin cleanup, pump water out slowly. If you drain your basement too quickly, the pressure outside the walls will be greater than the pressure inside, which may cause the basement floor and walls to crack and collapse.

Safe Cleanup and Recovery

Post-flood cleanup requires careful attention to safety protocols. Use personal protective equipment such as an N95 mask, rubber boots and rubber gloves, and eye protection during clean up. Properly protect any existing open wounds. If you clean up debris, wear boots and gloves and thoroughly wash your hands after.

Proper sanitization is crucial: To sterilize, mix 1/2 to 3/4 cup of household bleach with one (1) gallon of water. Wear personal protective equipment (goggles, gloves) during sanitation process. Allow surfaces to remain damp with this solution for thirty minutes, and then rinse with clean water.

Mold is one of the most significant long-term health risks after a flood, so it is vital to ensure all mold spurs have been eliminated. People with asthma, lung conditions, weakened immune systems, or allergies are at higher risk of respiratory issues and worsening symptoms if they’re exposed to high levels of mold spores.

When to Call Professional Help

While some cleanup tasks can be handled safely by homeowners, extensive water damage requires professional intervention. Mold cleanup can be difficult and dangerous. When possible, it is best to hire mold remediation professionals to ensure the work is completed thoroughly. Mattresses and other large items soaked with flood waters will need to be discarded, since they cannot be effectively cleaned to a point of safe usage.

For Milwaukee residents dealing with significant water damage, searching for reliable emergency flood services near me can connect you with experienced professionals who understand local flooding patterns and building codes. Flood Guys is a local, family-owned, and operated Water Restoration company that services a 35 mile radius of the Milwaukee WI Metro Area, offering professional services for all your Residential and Commercial Water Restoration needs.

Preparing for Future Events

Given Milwaukee’s increasing flood risk, preparation is essential. Check that your sump pump is working. Cover openings, including walls, floors, roofs, or windows that were damaged and not repaired yet. Use heavy-duty plastic sheeting or tarps to keep rain out.

Receive Water Drop Alert text messages when heavy rain threatens the area. When a Water Drop Alert has been issued, a reminder is sent to use less water. These early warning systems can help you take preventive action before flooding begins.

Milwaukee’s recent flooding events have shown that urban flooding isn’t just a possibility—it’s an inevitable part of living in this water-rich city. By understanding the risks, following safety protocols, and knowing when to seek professional help, residents can protect themselves and their property when the next storm arrives. Remember, your safety is always the top priority, and no property is worth risking your life.