MILWAUKEE, WI — On Aug. 10, severe flash floods hit Milwaukee, Wis. and impacted surrounding areas in the southeast regions of the state. The unprecedented rainfall caused extensive damage to hundreds of homes in the area.
According to the Wisconsin State Climatology Office, a 24-hour rain total of 14.5 inches was reported on Aug. 9. While this report still needs to be verified, if true this would set a new record, beating the June 24, 1946, Ashland County 24-hour rain record of 11.72 inches. According to Wisc. governor Tony Evers, the flooding caused an estimated $43 million in public damage and at least $33 million in private home losses have also been confirmed according to Fox 6 Milwaukee.
Ben Seamans, Wisc. and Minn. Disaster Relief (DR) Director, initially activated his teams and called upon neighboring relief teams to assist in the cleanup efforts. Over Labor Day weekend, Oklahoma DR director Jason Yarbrough reached out to him and asked if any additional help was needed. Seamans said yes.
“By Tuesday morning, Sept. 2, a group of 17 (DR volunteers) departed our DR Team Center headed for Milwaukee, Wi,” Yarbrough said.
Flood recovery, feeding and shower/laundry teams were sent to serve at Brown Deer Baptist Church in Milwaukee. They are expected to return home on Sept. 14 and the overall response effort will hopefully conclude by Sept. 20. In the first five days of working they have had five Gospel conversations, made more than 30 ministry contacts, given out nine Bibles, completed 60 loads of laundry, provided 80 showers and prepared more than 400 meals for volunteers.
“Ben shared Tuesday that the work out of state DR volunteers are doing is helping to make great strides with connecting the local churches to the work of DR in their state,” said Yarbrough. “Pastors are having their eyes opened to all that DR can do to help them reach their communities with the Gospel while meeting practical needs. Thank you for your faithfulness in supporting this ministry with your prayers and gifts.”
For more information about Oklahoma DR, visit https://www.okdisasterhelp.org/.
