Milwaukee Officials Seek More Emergency Shelters After Floods Displace Thousands

Following unprecedented floods in Milwaukee County in August 2025 that caused over $34 million in public property damage and displaced thousands, local officials and the American Red Cross are calling for increased emergency shelter capacity and volunteer support. The floods, which dumped over 10 inches of rain, destroyed or severely damaged more than 3,400 homes, particularly impacting vulnerable populations such as unhoused individuals, two of whom tragically drowned. The Red Cross reopened shelters, relocating them to the Milwaukee Environmental Sciences Academy after school closures affected the previous Marshall High School site, where about 50 people had been staying. City and county leaders, including Mayor Cavalier Johnson and Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski, emphasized the trauma faced by affected residents and the ongoing need for safe shelter options near hardest-hit neighborhoods. Emergency officials and the Urgent Sheltering Task Force highlighted the shortage of shelters on Milwaukee’s north side, a region experiencing both severe flood damage and recent apartment fires, and are urging community involvement to expand shelter networks using schools, churches, and community centers. Efforts aim to keep displaced residents close to their neighborhoods and ensure sufficient volunteer staffing to meet increasing demand during disasters.