'This is not going to stop us': Cleanup efforts underway after severe flooding in Tosa village

WAUWATOSA, Wis. (CBS 58) — Floodwaters may be slowly receding in Wauwatosa, but for many along the Menomonee River, the damage is done.

Now businesses, landmarks, and sports facilities are cleaning up and facing some tough realities.

Cafe Hollander in the village has several dumpsters outside their front doors.

Thier management told CBS 58 the restaurant is closed until further notice, and they are waiting for river levels to go down.

It's one of several spots along the river in recovery mode right now, and some are faring better than others.

One of Wauwatosa's oldest buildings is getting a cleanup - The Little Red Store on Harwood Avenue.

Amanda Saso, executive director at the Wauwatosa Historical Society, watched on security cameras as water surrounded the 171-year-old event and exhibit space, coming inside from the back porch.

"I was helpless, you know, we really couldn't do anything at that point," Saso said.

Flooding mostly affected storage in the basement, and Saso is thankful.

"Nothing priceless. There are no artifacts, no archives, there's nothing like that down there," she said.

Like several businesses in Wauwatosa, Monday was spent pumping out water.

"The next steps are going to be some power washing, some drying out, and sanitization, and then we'll have a really clean basement," Saso said.

Other places are in worse shape, like the Hart Park stadium.

The football field turf is crumpled and storage spaces are flooded.

"Right now, it's a waiting game," said Andreas Davi, owner of the FC Milwaukee Torrent.

He tells us the soccer club has more than $60,000 worth of gear stored under the bleachers.

"Basically the only thing that was not in the storage are the jerseys and the balls," Davi explained.

The club's mission is to make soccer affordable for everyone.

Davi said he doesn't have insurance for this kind of damage.

"I built this up from nothing. Every cent we need in this program is raised," he explained.

Right now, he can't even go into Hart Park to count their losses until it's safe.

"I know I will bounce back from it. This is not going to stop us, but right now I feel defeated for the first time," Davi said.

Hart Park is closed to the public until further notice.

The Wales Soccer Club has created a GoFundMe to help the FC Milwaukee Torrent recover.