Neighborhoods drying out after clogged drains caused widespread flooding
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- On Tuesday afternoon, March 5, the Milwaukee area started to dry out after hours of rain Monday night caused widespread flooding in many areas.
The culprit in most cases was clogged storm drains.
In most of those areas it took hours for the water to finally dissipate.
Several people told us it feels like it's up to them to clear the drains and make some progress.
Mike Broderick has had to clear storm sewers many, many times in the 45+ years he and his wife have lived near Oakland and Newberry.
He does it so often that he keeps his tools of the trade at the ready on the front porch.
Broderick told us, "I put on either knee boots on or ankle boots, depending on the depth of the water right here."
Broderick unplugged all four sewers on his corner, clearing garbage and debris from the storm grates. But he says the biggest offender is yard waste. "It's really like the leaves never really get totally removed in the fall. And then we're putting up with last fall's leaves all the way through the winter."
He said the city does come by occasionally to clear drains, but not consistently.
Broderick's intersection was one of several areas under water Monday night after torrential rains hit the Milwaukee area.
We saw water levels almost up to the doors of cars parked downtown Monday night. By Tuesday the water had finally receded, revealing more clogged drains to blame.
Some flooded spots, like the waves of water that washed down Brady St., dissipated quickly.
But another trouble area Monday night was near College and 20th.
Mhomed Govani has lived at that corner for nearly 20 years and told us it's a dangerous intersection when it floods.
He said it can take days for the water to recede after the worst floods. This time the water was largely gone in about 20 hours.
"Most of the time the city comes and does it, but if they don't come we have to do it."
A spokesperson for Milwaukee's Department of Public Works told us, "We had extra crews working to address those calls and clear the drains last night. We received some additional calls overnight and into early morning hours which crews were addressing this morning."
They also said people can report clogs during floods -or anytime- and a crew will address the issue.
But that could take time, which is why some people like Mike Broderick take care of it themselves, to the benefit of drivers and walkers alike.
Mike and his wife have lived in their house since 1976. She said they're so used to the flooding that when their kids were young, they would treat it like a pool and head into the street to swim in the floodwater.