The Wauwatosa Common Council voted Aug. 26 to ratify the emergency declaration that Mayor Dennis McBride issued in the immediate aftermath of this month's destructive flooding in the city, a procedural step that acknowledged the extent of the disaster's impact on the community.
The unanimous voice vote followed a presentation by City Administrator James Archambo summarizing how numerous city departments mobilized during and after the Aug. 9 and 10 storms and flooding — from the fire crews who rescued about 70 people from the floodwaters to the pubic works crews who conducted special garbage pickup.
The Public Works Department made 1,800 stops at properties to collect more than 800 tons of flood debris, the equivalent of about twice what garbage crews collect in a week from all Tosa households during normal trash collection.
Archambo also said that nearly 6,000 people called 211 to report flood damage to public officials, which officials hope will help the city secure access to federal aid through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA. "We have many residents, many businesses who were devastated by the floods," he said. Even now more than two weeks after the flooding, he encouraged residents to check on their neighbors, especially elderly residents, to see if they need any assistance
Archambo, however, urged patience with the federal relief process. If the president declares a disaster in Wisconsin from this month's flooding, he said, property owners might be able to begin applying for assistance by November.
Archambo and McBride were joined by members of the council in thanking the various departments for their work in the disaster response.
"It was expertly handled by our staff," McBride said. The mayor also reiterated his thanks to Wauwatosa natives John and Tashia Morgridge who gave $1 million through their TOSA Foundation to help with repairs at Hart Park. Flood damage to the park and other city owned infrastructure and recreational facilities totaled $9 million, according to the city's initial estimates.
City officials also cited infrastructure investments by the city and the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District for likely helping to limit the overall extent of the damage.
McBride, as mayor, was authorized to declare an emergency to enable city departments to address the community's immediate needs as the disaster was unfolding. The council, upon its next meeting, retained the power to review the mayor's declaration, and it voted to add its backing to the declaration with no objections.
Archambo said the city has made such declarations before, such as in severe winter weather. As destructive as the flooding was, "we did not suffer any loss of life or serious injuries," he said, "which is frankly given some of the things we saw, pretty remarkable."
Also at the council's Aug. 26 meeting, members voted unanimously to waive the city's building permit fees for repairs and renovations related to flood damage. Mark Hammond, the city's development director, had recommended waiving those fees for 90 days, though upon the suggestion of some council members, their final vote extended the waiver period to 120 days, to allow more time for property owners to plan their repairs.
The city has estimated that more than 500 homes and more than 50 businesses were affected by the flooding, particularly those near the Menomonee River, which rose about 13 feet and overflowed its banks.
Get additional Tosa Forward News coverage of the 2025 flood here.
