'Something good is being done': Flood prevention update project coming to McCarty Park

WEST ALLIS, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Months after August's historic flooding, one West Allis neighborhood is taking steps to make sure it doesn't happen again. 

Residents in the McCarty Park neighborhood were among those hit the hardest, and now steps are being taken to make sure it doesn't happen again.

"We had four feet of water in the basement, so the basement was a total loss," said Steven Fels, who lives in the McCarty Park neighborhood. "We had to gut the whole thing."

The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District declared an emergency at the McCarty Park trash rack, after piles of debris clogged the water channel and stopped water from flowing through last August.

"We want to make sure with this project, that any flooding isn’t because of debris accumulation on the trash rack," said Mark Mittag, with the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District.

MMSD says the new trash rack will be four times larger, helping to intercept debris more efficiently and prevent flooding.

Those who live near McCarty Park and faced thousands of dollars of damages, say while this is a good start in prevention, they want more to be done.

"I mean, I think there’s probably some frustration that more isn’t being done, but I think everybody would agree that’s good that something is being done," said Mittag.

The project is expected to be completed this year. MMSD says they are requesting funding for next year to explore further studies and prevention developments.