Water Damage Restoration in Milwaukee, WI

First Steps for Water in a Home in Milwaukee

• Burst pipe: shut the main water valve, then open the lowest faucet to drain the lines (burst pipe steps).
• Stay clear of wet outlets and cords.
• Photograph the damage, then call your insurer.

Milwaukee Flood Record

NOAA has 72 flood and flash flood reports for Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties from 2016 to 2025, on 39 separate days; August had the most.

At the Mount Mary College gauge, June is the wettest month with 4.8 inches on average.

Freezing Nights in Milwaukee

Milwaukee averages 134 nights a year at or below 32°F (Mount Mary College station). About 62 of them drop to 20°F or colder. NOAA counted 60 winter storm, ice or extreme cold days in Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties from 2016 to 2025.

Unheated crawl spaces, attics and garages freeze first (Red Cross); keep the heat at 55°F or more (IBHS).

Storms and Disasters in Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties were named in 4 federal weather or fire declarations since 2016 (OpenFEMA).

Notable NOAA storm reports

• April 17, 2026: Tornado, EF1 (Milwaukee County)Tornado started near 6 Mile Rd west of Raynor Ave and tracked to the northeast, ending in southern Milwaukee county. Possible that this tornado merged with the other one directly to the south.
• April 14, 2026: Tornado, EF2 (Waukesha County)Tornado appeared to develop in the Lisbon Oaks subdivision, causing mainly tree damage before intensifying closer to Highway 164.
• August 9, 2025: Flash flood (Waukesha County)Widespread flash flooding of streets, creeks, rivers, and low lying neighborhoods and homes occurred especially in New Berlin, Brookfield, Butler, Menomonee Falls, Elm Grove, and Muskego.
• June 29, 2025: Thunderstorm wind, 82 mph gust (Milwaukee County)AWOS station at Milwaukee Lawrence-Timmerman Airport measured a wind gusts of 82 mph. A small plane was tipped over. Sporadic tree damage was noted in the neighborhoods surrounding the airport along with power outages.
• April 7, 2020: Hail, 2.75 inch hail (Ozaukee County)Scattered thunderstorms developed along a cold front and produced very large hail.

Federal disaster declarations

• June 30, 2026: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And FloodingFlood, FEMA DR-4923
• September 11, 2025: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And MudslidesFlood, FEMA DR-4892
• March 11, 2020: Severe Winter Storm And FloodingFlood, FEMA DR-4477
• October 18, 2018: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And LandslidesFlood, FEMA DR-4402

Milwaukee Housing at a Glance

Census figures for the city of Milwaukee (American Community Survey, 2020 to 2024): 259,101 housing units, a median build year of 1953, 84% built before 1980, 75% before 1970, 42% owner occupied.

Wisconsin Insurance Rules for Water Claims

Wisconsin treats a claim as overdue if it is not paid within 30 days after the insurer gets written notice of a covered loss and its amount (Wis. Stat. 628.46).

Claim problems in Wisconsin go to the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance.

Flood damage needs a separate flood policy, which typically starts 30 days after purchase (FloodSmart). Look up Milwaukee flood zones on FEMA's flood maps.

Restoration Cost Guide for Milwaukee

Sources: Bob Vila, May 2023; III, 2019 to 2023.

Areas Served Around Milwaukee

The same 24/7 line covers the Milwaukee metro area, including:

• Milwaukee
• Waukesha
• West Allis
• Wauwatosa
• Brookfield
• Menomonee Falls
• New Berlin
• Oak Creek
• Greenfield
• Franklin
• West Bend
• Muskego

Other Wisconsin city guides

• Madison water damage restoration

Water damage restoration in all cities

Questions

When is the first freeze in Milwaukee?

The median first night at or below 32°F is October 18 and the median last is April 26 at the Mount Mary College station (NOAA normals, 1991 to 2020).

How fast does mold start?

Dry wet materials within 24 to 48 hours (EPA).