Milwaukee Flood Victims Face Deadline for Free Cleanup Services

In the aftermath of the historic flooding that struck Milwaukee in mid-August 2025, the city has been working tirelessly to assist residents in the cleanup and recovery efforts. Over the past three weeks, the city has seen a significant response, with 23,000 vehicles dumping items at two drop-off centers and another 15,000 residents having their flood-damaged belongings picked up from their curbs free of charge.

However, this free assistance is set to come to an end on August 31, 2025. Mayor Cavalier Johnson has announced that residents will have until this Sunday to take advantage of the city's curbside pickup and drop-off services. After that, residents will have to pay a fee to dispose of their flood-damaged items at the designated centers.

The city's Department of Neighborhood Services has inspected "thousands and thousands of properties" and confirmed the widespread damage caused by the historic flooding. According to the city, the damage has surpassed the threshold required to secure assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Governor Tony Evers has already requested a disaster declaration from President Trump, which, if approved, would allow residents to apply for FEMA aid.

As the cleanup efforts continue, the public works staff have been working long hours, even as some of them have had to deal with their own flood-damaged homes. Their dedication and hard work have been crucial in helping the city's residents recover from this devastating event.