Record rainfall fell across much of the Milwaukee area between late August 9 and early August 10, causing massive flash floods throughout the region.
Milwaukee Flood: Record Rainfall
Flash floods hit Milwaukee and Waukesha with up to 10 inches of rain, causing hundreds of emergency calls.
Milwaukee – Recording most of the Milwaukee Metro area between late August 9th and early August 10th, marking large scale flash floods throughout the region, leading to concert cancellations, car submersion and shutting down the Wisconsin State Fair.
Heavy rain was part of a large system that affected much of the central United States. The National Weather Service said it is likely to produce a flash flood case from the Central Plains to the Midwest on August 10.
While no flood-related deaths have been reported in the city in Milwaukee, residents are facing major property damage, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said at around noon on August 10th. Officials pleaded residents to leave their cars and leave the road.
Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski said 65 water rescues were completed overnight. He said dozens of people were rescued on or on the car.
“We’re all going through the same thing: Flood in the basement.”
The full extent of flood damage will be organized on the day as homeowners and apartment residents deal with flooded basements.
Jacqueline Zeledon lives on the northwest side of the city near Glendale, Wisconsin. She said that since 2am, three feet of flooding had been poured into the basement, and that four neighbors reported flooding their thighs.
“Everyone is awake and we are all going through the same thing: a flood of the basement,” she said. “Everything is lost. Furnace, water heater, deep freezer with food, CD collection, clothing, appliances. Everything downstairs is damaged.”
As Zeledon was talking about damage, she looked outside her street and saw shrapnel floating around. The manhole cover pops out and the lost dog didn’t know which way to walk.
The event has been cancelled
The Wisconsin Fair, held in West Alice, outside Milwaukee, will close on the evening of August 9th and will not reopen due to the final day scheduled for August 10th.
The Major League baseball game between the New York Mets and the Milwaukee Brewers is being played as scheduled for August 10th, the day after rain was pushed through the roof of American Family Field during the Brewers’ victory over the Mets on August 9th.
Even if it rained on August 9th, the people at State Fair made the most of the situation. The Wisconsin FFA Honorary Band and Choir feature members between the ages of 13 and 21, attracting a much larger audience than expected in the Youth Exhibition Hall as hundreds of people sought shelter from the storm.
The band’s director, Monte Danham, said the enhanced crowd had entered the performance.
“We were able to raise their spirits by making their spirits a fierce downpour for over an hour, and ultimately led to an early and fair closure,” Dunnum said. “The members of the FFA band had a great time. I think the audience had at least a really great diversion during the delayed weather. It was a more interesting performance than we expected.”
How much rain has it been?
According to the National Weather Service, 5.74 inches of rain fell on August 9, breaking Milwaukee’s daily rain record, which was previously 1.64 inches of rain, Weather.com said in an online report.
“By the early morning of August 10th, Milwaukee had acquired additional rainfall, bringing the storm total to nearly seven inches of rain. Radar estimates around Milwaukee show rainfall of 10-11 inches.”
River levels drop after record-breaking height overnight
River levels in the Milwaukee area continue to fall after extreme storms were sent to record highs overnight.
Andrew Quigley, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said the Milwaukee River had fallen to 8.7 feet in downtown Milwaukee.
Meteorologists continue to monitor river levels as rain showers move this afternoon.
“Don’t go through the flood.”
The Milwaukee Fire Department is still catching up on the afternoon of August 10th. Annoyed, Lipski said he gestured to a car driving through a flooded intersection on the northwest side of the city, where 14 inches of rain fell overnight. “We’ve spoken to people over and over again. Don’t run through the water,” Lipsky told reporters.
“This is how there are hundreds of vehicles around cities blocking intersections, making progress absolutely impossible. We need everyone to help us here. We can’t do everything. We can’t be anywhere at once. Don’t drive a flood.”
