Menomonee Falls reports wide flood damage; FEMA grants $29.8 million in individual assistance

Assistant Police Chief Eugene Meidhardt briefed the Village Board of Menomonee Falls on the Aug. 9 severe storm and the village's ongoing recovery, saying a presidential declaration for individual assistance totaling $29,800,000 was issued in mid-September.

Meidhardt said the storm brought rainfall estimated between 9 and 12.5 inches in the hardest-hit areas, with the Menomonee River cresting around 8.5 feet (just above moderate flood level). The village recorded 409 calls for service during the peak response, and the highest call volume spiked between about 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. No deaths or injuries were reported.

Why it matters: the presidential individual-assistance declaration makes FEMA individual aid available to qualifying residents and businesses; Meidhardt emphasized that the federal award may not make households whole and urged residents to document losses.

Meidhardt outlined the village's timeline and damage-assessment work. The village activated the 2-1-1 portal and received its first 2-1-1 submission on Aug. 11. Firefighters and trained county teams completed 191 survey…