Months after Milwaukee’s historic flood, many households are still dealing with damage and other related issues.
Here is what you need to know if you or your neighbors are still impacted.
If we missed anything, email Princess at [email protected].
Still need help
If you reported damage to 211 last year, your case may still be open in the Crisis Cleanup system.
If you didn’t, you can still seek help. You can still call 211.
Or you can reach out to the United Methodist Committee On Relief, or UMCOR, at [email protected].
UMCOR connects residents to the local disaster response team that it coordinates.
You may receive a call from a disaster case manager, a referral for furnace or water heater replacement or help navigating Federal Emergency Management Agency services. Responders can all help residents with insurance appeals or connect them with volunteer cleanup or rebuilding teams.
Apply again
If you have not applied for assistance through FEMA or your own insurance, you should.
If you have and were denied, appeal it.
Alice Franks-Gray, director of response and recovery for UMCOR Wisconsin, said initial denials are common.
If FEMA denied your claim, file an appeal through FEMA’s website or contact its helpline.
If your insurance denied your claim, appeal that decision as well.
Franks-Gray said denials can happen due to missing paperwork or incomplete documentation.
“If you’ve only been denied once, you’ve only been denied once,” she said.
Disaster case managers with UMCOR can help residents prepare appeals.
Addressing mold
Many homeowners are experiencing a second wave of mold since the floods.
Here is what you should know.
- Do NOT use bleach to clean it. Bleach can make mold worse by opening spores.
- Use mold remediation spray designed to inhibit regrowth.
- Remove and discard materials that were submerged and continue to treat for mold.
- Lightly mist affected areas. Do not oversaturate walls.
Recovery teams are hosting pop-up events to distribute mold remediation spray. Community centers interested in hosting a distribution event can email [email protected].
For renters
You can report issues if you’re a renter, but your landlord or property must give permission for volunteer repair or rebuilding work.
If your landlord is unresponsive, you should document communication attempts and seek guidance from the Department of Neighborhood Services.
To contact DNS, call 414-286-2543 or go to the website to report an issue.
Check on your people
Franks-Gray said some of the most serious cases have been discovered months later, including residents living without hot water or heat.
Ask neighbors, particularly elders, if they have flood damage and if they are still being impacted by damages.
Even if a home looks fine from the outside, damage may be hidden inside.
How to help
Franks-Gray said UMCOR is hiring disaster case managers to help field calls and navigate assistance, a construction coordinator to lead volunteer repair and construction teams.
The group is also looking to train volunteer community navigators and find volunteer groups for rebuilding this spring.
Residents and organizations interested in positions, volunteering or partnering can email [email protected].
Jonathan Aguilar is a visual journalist at Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service who is supported through a partnership between CatchLight Local and Report for America.
