FEMA to start surveying storm damage Thursday as storm-related challenges continue to mount for residents

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- FEMA will soon have investigators on the ground in southeast Wisconsin to survey the damage left by the historic storm earlier this month.

It's a critical next step that's necessary if the region is to ever receive federal disaster aid.

FEMA will talk to people this week to better understand the damage done and the impact it's having on the community. Everywhere we've gone, people want FEMA to see what they see, but they're also worried it's coming too late.

Danny Janczak is an independent home improvement contractor. He told us, "It's horrendous. There's so much damage."

In a northside neighborhood near 61st and Lawn, Janczak is trying to help as many people as he can. He said, "I'm so overwhelmed with work right now. I got so many people calling me to get water heaters, get their basements picked up."

He was on job number two of four when we spoke with him Tuesday. He said he can't do it all, and people are suffering. Pointing to several houses, he said, "She can’t go in the house because it could collapse at any time. James is fortunate. He has no hot water, no gas, but he’s still living at home."

Some hope should arrive Thursday, when FEMA's preliminary damage assessment teams hit the ground in southeast Wisconsin. It's only step two in a six-step process that could take months.

The assessment teams will consist of FEMA and state officials. They'll interview homeowners, renters, and business owners to document property damage and the impact of the storms.

But it's not yet known where, specifically, the FEMA teams will go.

Many people are concerned that even if FEMA does come to their specific neighborhood, there may not be a lot of people left to talk to them about the damage because so many people have already moved away.

Janczak pointed to more houses, saying, "This one's vacant right now. They have no gas, no power, no water. That one over there has no gas, no power, no water."

Angelina Gordon's back was sore from helping neighbors when we talked with her. She said, "Overall, to repair this community, we're going to just need some funding. Some funding and some dedication."

She said her neighborhood's concerns go far beyond water damage. "Most of the houses on this block most likely need new foundations."

She's trying to be patient and is confident funding will come, especially because President Trump won Wisconsin.

But she's still pressing everyone she knows to report their damage. "All of that adds up and that's how we get our funding from FEMA. And we want FEMA to help us, so we want to call as much as possible."

FEMA's assessments will help estimate the total extent of the damage and thus the dollar amount that will be requested.

Those on the ground, like Janczak, say it can't come soon enough. "I just hope FEMA comes out here and assesses this damage and gets these people some help. They really need it. They’re in desperate need of help right now."

There were plenty of signs of life in the neighborhood. In addition to Janczak installing water heaters, we saw an insurance adjuster checking out a house and We Energies turning power back on at a building.

But we also spoke with a postal carrier who said he cannot deliver about half his mail because many of the homes are too unsafe for him to walk the steps to the mailbox.