When Thomas Hipke finished his shift as a server at Leff’s Lucky Town tavern in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, around 1 a.m. on Sunday, the heavy rain that had been pouring in the Milwaukee area for several hours appeared to be easing up.
“I thought to myself, ‘Maybe it will improve,’” Mr. Hipke, 20, remembered before he went to bed.
Upon waking, he found the town flooded.
Record-breaking rainfall in southeastern Wisconsin overnight from Saturday to Sunday caused life-threatening flash floods in Wauwatosa, Milwaukee, and nearby areas.
The intense rainfall led to water rescues, caused damage to homes and businesses, and resulted in power outages for thousands.
Milwaukee County officials announced a state of emergency, and the Wisconsin State Fair decided to cancel its final day on Sunday due to the extreme weather.
As of Sunday afternoon, there were no immediate updates regarding fatalities or injuries related to the flooding.
The Milwaukee region experienced almost eight inches of rainfall from Saturday afternoon to Sunday morning, breaking the record for the highest two-day rainfall in the area, according to the National Weather Service. Forecasters indicated that additional heavy rain was anticipated into Sunday evening, and flood warnings remained active throughout Wisconsin.
The city of Wauwatosa, located just north of Milwaukee’s fairgrounds in the western suburbs, faced significant damage. Parts of downtown were flooded Sunday morning, and several residents had to be rescued from their basements or vehicles.
Mr. Hipke reported that his 82-year-old grandmother was among those rescued. During her regular morning trip to McDonald's for a Diet Coke, he said she became trapped in rising floodwaters near a bridge over the Menomonee River. Rescue personnel reached her Chrysler minivan using a raft and brought it to a secure area, where her son was able to pick her up.
Hart Park, a large sports facility along the Menomonee River, was entirely submerged on Sunday. Police utilized a loudspeaker to ask a gathering of spectators to leave, informing them that the park and adjacent riverfront area were closed.
“I attempted to go for my morning walk, but it felt like navigating through rapids,” stated Fran McLaughlin, a local resident. She had experienced heavy rainfall and swollen rivers before, but “this is probably the worst it has ever been,” she remarked.
At the state fair in West Allis, located west of Milwaukee, organizers decided to cancel a concert by Lynyrd Skynyrd on Saturday night due to the weather and shut down the fairgrounds earlier than planned. Footage shared on social media and local news outlets depicted vehicles at the fairgrounds partially submerged on Saturday night.
The Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management announced on Sunday that it had not been able to account for all service calls or complete a full damage assessment. However, the office stated in a press release that the rainfall had "overwhelmed local drainage systems" and that "widespread flooding along with significant damage to residences, businesses, roadways, and parks has created an immediate risk to public safety." Additionally, the office reported that some residences and businesses in the county sustained damage from lightning during the storm.
Significant power outages, flooding, and road blockages impacted at least 19 municipalities throughout the county, according to Cassandra Libal, the agency director, in an email.
Reports of stranded motorists and water rescue operations started coming in overnight on Saturday, as creeks overflowed and many flooded onto roadways.
In Milwaukee, Jorge Davila, 26, and a friend were riding in an Uber home from a night out when floodwaters surged onto the Menomonee River Parkway. “We could feel the car beginning to sway with the current,” Mr. Davila recounted. “Suddenly, we realized we had been engulfed by the river and were unable to move anymore.”
Revving the engine proved futile, he mentioned, and the water was rising and seeping into the vehicle, so he and his friend had to push their way out into the knee-deep water. “After what felt like a long time, we managed to save the vehicle, right before the water reached the engine bay,” he stated.
Mr. Davila remembered feeling sticks, branches, and debris hitting his legs as they pushed the car through the rapidly flowing floodwaters.
“Perhaps this wasn't the wisest choice, upon reflection,” he remarked.
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