FEMA wraps up field assessments over the weekend; residents concerned some neighborhoods weren't visited

WISCONSIN (CBS 58) -- Federal investigators from FEMA say they have finished field assessments in southeastern Wisconsin for flood damage, but some residents say no one stopped by their communities to speak with them.

Natalie Gilhuber has lived in West Allis for over a decade, but these days, she says she’s just getting by.

“There’s still so much. It’s like every time you think something’s done, you still find more stuff,” said Gilhuber. “Like for our house, we still have no power.”

Down the street, Terry Schimke agrees.

“We’re all, everyone here is in the same boat,” said Schimke.

Both Schimke and Gilhuber say they’ve been waiting for federal emergency management agency officials to assess their homes for flood damage, but officials never arrived in their neighborhood.

“Yeah. Yeah, I’m very frustrated with it,” said Gilhuber.

“I feel kinda kicked in the gut,” said Schimke.

Last week, six FEMA teams went door to door to speak to residents about the damage they faced. The data collected could help southeastern Wisconsin get relief money.

“It’s bad enough that the flood happened, but then to have people just supposedly have came, it’s like they just passed you right by,” said Schimke.

Previously, FEMA officials stated they didn’t need to see every home, just “enough” to assess the damage caused by flooding. FEMA officials say this is just one step in a process that could take several months in entirety to complete.

In a statement, FEMA told CBS 58 field assessments wrapped up over the weekend, but Schimke and Gilhuber say they’re worried officials didn’t spend enough time in town.

“I’ve been out here looking every day and never came through here. Filled out all the paperwork, haven’t heard nothing and now they left town?” said Gilhuber.

Both say they hope relief comes soon.

“There’s no way I could afford to repair this,” said Schimke.

FEMA shared the following with CBS 58: 

"FEMA participated in Joint PDAs and worked at the direction of the state of Wisconsin, which identified the communities to conduct in person assessments. It’s important for viewers to understand that the joint teams did not need to visit every neighborhood, knock on every door or speak with every resident. We relied on our county and state partners – who have been on the ground since Day 1 conducting assessments and gathering data about the damage, to provide us with a snapshot of the damage caused by the storms...We want to me make it clear. If a major disaster declaration is authorized, all residents who live in Milwaukee, Waukesha, and Washington counites who have uninsured losses will have the opportunity to apply for FEMA assistance."