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MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee leaders on Thursday said, because of the sheer volume of water that overwhelmed storm sewers, no amount of preparation could have prevented the recent localized street flooding.
Significant rainfall
What they're saying:
The deep tunnel was already at more than 75% capacity heading into Wednesday night's storms.
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The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District initiated a combined sewer overflow to prevent basement backups, meaning untreated sewage is being released into waterways including Lake Michigan, the Milwaukee River and the Menomonee River.
"No system is designed to handle that amount of volume in such a short time," said Jerrel Kruschke, Milwaukee's Department of Public Work commissioner. "Yesterday's storm was a volume issue, it wasn't a catch-basin back-up issue."
Milwaukee flooding: Cars stuck in high water, roads closed
Flooding caused road closures and left vehicles stranded in Milwaukee on Thursday morning, April 16.
FOX6 News crews found significant flooding across the city after significant rainfall on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Some of the hardest-hit areas remained flooded Thursday.
"The BMW stalled out in front of me. And I tried to stop and put it in reverse and back up, but once I stopped, my car stalled out as well," said Dennis Wren, who bailed out of his car and swam after it got stuck in the high water near Fond du Lac and Locust. "After that, I was on the roof – the hood, and the whole car was submerged."
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While the DPW said flooding on Tuesday could be pinpointed to a lot of debris and trash clogging storm sewers, the department received around 900 calls for service – and couldn't be everywhere to clear storm drains or block roadways.
The Milwaukee Fire Department said it's received roughly 115 calls for help, mostly from stranded drivers, and urges residents to use common sense.
"We want to remind folks to stay out of flooded areas," said MFD Assistant Chief Schuyler Belott. "Don't drive your vehicle through them, don't walk through flooded areas, you may have manhole covers, sewers, grates, that got pushed up from the pressure of the water."
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Milwaukee officials give flood response update
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson and other city officials provided an update Thursday on the ongoing response to flooding that has overwhelmed certain neighborhoods and roadways.
Street, basement flooding
What you can do:
A city spokesperson said crews are out across Milwaukee to address street flooding. People can report street flooding locations by calling 414-286-CITY.
Department of Neighborhood Services commissioner Jezamil Arroyo-Vega urges people not to enter flooded basements and to call 211 or 414-286-CITY.
Once it's safe to go into the basement, Arroyo-Vega said to avoid water heaters, washing machines, dryers and other electrical appliances and let them dry. Document any damage with photos for insurance purposes, and contact a licensed electrician or plumber to inspect breaker boxes and water heaters before attempting to restore them.
Finally, look for structural damage and signs of compromised foundations, including various types and sizes of cracks. A foundation contractor can identify issues and help create a repair plan.
Editor's note: This story was updated with new information from Thursday's news conference with city officials.
The Source: FOX6 News crews went to flood-impacted areas and referenced information from the City of Milwaukee.