FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – West Allis, WI – Oct. 13, 2025 — In the wake of the recent flood emergency, the City of West Allis demonstrated extraordinary coordination, resilience, and compassion. From first responders to various City employees, every department that could assist mobilized rapidly to provide relief, resources, and recovery support to affected residents.
Impact by Organization/Department
Community Impact Partnership and Foundation Launches Rapid Relief Effort
Volunteer leaders of the emerging Community Impact Partnership and Foundation swiftly secured 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, established donation infrastructure, and raised $17,800 from 32 donors within just two weeks. A task force of community partners developed an efficient distribution plan for the funds, while City staff amplified donation messaging and coordinated corporate support.
Marketing & Communications: Keeping the Community Informed
The City’s Marketing team created 11 dedicated web pages to centralize flood-related information. The initial Flood Recovery Plan page alone received 11,265 views between Aug. 10 and Sept.16. In total, flood-related pages garnered 13,433 views.
Key pages included:
- Flood Updates & Resources – 666 views
- Cleaning and Mold Mitigation – 663 views
- Cleaning Debris – 287 views
- FEMA Updates – 192 views
- I Need Help – 114 views
The City also sent 19 email updates (22,755 emails) and 19 SMS alerts (11,807 texts), and posted 18 original updates and 12 shared posts on social media, reaching 498,764 views. Information was distributed in English and Spanish via print, email, text, app, website, and social media. To ensure accessibility, the City also printed 3,500 flyers for distribution by alders, public works, and the health department, helping residents report damage and access resources.
West Allis Police Department
Within the first 12 hours of the storm, the Police Communications Center fielded 964 calls — nearly 800 more than average — and officers responded to over 200 flood-related calls, all while managing peak traffic from the Wisconsin State Fair.
West Allis Fire Department
Between Aug. 9 and 10, 2025, the West Allis Fire Department responded to 30 emergency calls, including 22 directly related to the storm. Crews performed multiple rescues, saving 12 adults, 10 children, and three dogs, often wading through high water to reach those in need.
Department of Public Works
As of Oct. 1, 2025, the Department of Public Works (DPW) and private haulers have removed a combined total of 4,367,300 pounds (or 2,184 tons) of flood debris from across the City.
- DPW-Collected Debris: 3,893,300 pounds (1,947 tons)
- Private Drop-Off Containers: 474,000 pounds (237 tons)
- Regular Labor Hours (DPW-wide): 5,708 hours
- Overtime Hours (DPW-wide): 1,821 hours
Container Usage (Aug. 9 – Sept. 2, 2025):
- 21 total drop-off containers deployed, eight by DPW and13 by private haulers
- City containers were dumped 252 times between Aug. 11 and Oct. 1, 2025
Resident Support:
- Six residents requested container drop-offs via 2-1-1
- Sanitation continues to receive one-to-three bulk debris pickup requests per week
Southwest Suburban Health Department
The Southwest Suburban Health Department distributed 201 cleanup kits, including 68 direct-to-door deliveries, provided education and referrals at the county’s recovery event at McCarty Park, and worked with households where mold was reported. Their flood-related social media content was widely shared across West Allis, Greenfield, and West Milwaukee. As well, the department facilitated the opening of the Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) at the West Allis Senior Center, which will be open October 13 – October 31.
Engineering & Infrastructure
- Mapped flood zones using 211 data points from various sources
- Inspected bridges, culverts, and intersections
- Televised over 79,000 feet of sanitary and storm sewers
- Identified and are repairing damaged infrastructure, including a collapsed catch basin and damaged manholes
Code Enforcement
The City received 50 permit refund applications related to storm damage. 21 properties have passed final inspections and checks are going out for a total of $5,346. The number of furnace and water heater inspections are still currently in process, so once they have passed inspections, refunds will be sent.
A Unified Response
This flood response showcased the City of West Allis’ unwavering commitment to its residents. From life-saving rescues to real-time communication and long-term recovery planning, many City departments played a vital role in protecting and supporting the community.
Mayor Dan Devine applauds the City’s united response and unwavering service to the community during one of its most challenging times: “I’m deeply thankful to our emergency management, public health, and first responder teams for their relentless efforts in assessing the damage throughout West Allis and the county, disseminating crucial information, and linking residents to essential resources during this challenging period. Additionally, I extend my heartfelt thanks to all the City departments, alderpersons, volunteers, non-profits, and businesses that have rallied around the community, generously donating supplies, time, and resources. We faced this challenge together—and came out stronger on the other side.”
Continued Assistance
The Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management will be hosting a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) at the West Allis Senior Center (7001 W. National Ave.) in the Multipurpose Room, Mondays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. starting Oct. 13 and ongoing through Friday, Oct. 31 to aid in recovery efforts for flood victims and survivors.
Milwaukee County DRC’s are accessible facilities that flood survivors can visit in person to learn more about FEMA and other agencies providing disaster assistance. Anyone who has been affected by a declared disaster can visit the DRC to ask questions and access available resources. At a DRC, residents can:
- Speak directly with federal representatives
- Get help applying for federal assistance
- Receive updates on their FEMA application
- Learn more about the appeals process
Residents are not required to go to a DRC to receive FEMA assistance. Apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone at 800-621-3362.
For more information and ongoing updates, visit: Community Flood Resources.
