September 11, 2025 – West Bend, Wi – It’s the news families in West Bend, Germantown, and the rest of Wisconsin have been waiting for as Senator Ron Johnson has confirmed President Trump has approved funding for flood disaster relief.
The relief is reportedly $29.8 million. Johnson’s message is below:
“I just had a great call with @POTUS who approved Wisconsin’s request for flood disaster relief. Thank you to President Trump for continuing to deliver BIG TIME for Wisconsinites. Also, thank you to @RepBryanSteil and @RepFitzgerald for helping lead the charge to obtain the much-needed federal assistance.”
Rita and Dan Fellenz live on 16th Avenue in West Bend, WI. The couple were extremely happy to hear the news but every week another shoe drops on an expense in the thousands.
“It just keeps adding up,” said Rita. “We now have to redo a wall in the basement and that’s come in at $10,000.”
Dan chimed in with even more costly losses including a washing machine, dryer, furnace… “And we paid $6,000 for the cleaning serving and another $600 for the Dumpster.”
The Fellenz hope the relief will come directly to families impacted by the floods, however that remains undetermined.
Flood victim Jessica Sabo’s home was severely destroyed on 16th Avenue. Sabo remains indifferent upon hearing the news about relief.
“It doesn’t mean it will benefit/assist us here on 16th in our current situation,” she said. “I imagine the larger areas impacted will be addressed first. Nobody including myself wants to get our hopes up, so I would rather be or hope to be pleasantly surprised.”
This is a working story, and more information will be posted when details are available.
PS – Make sure to turn out Wednesday, September 17, 2025, to offer your support to the forgotten flood families on 16th Avenue in West Bend, WI.
August 27, 2025 – Washington Co., Wi – Families and businesses in West Bend, Germantown, and across Washington County damaged by August sewage backups and flooding are part of a letter sent by Governor Evers to President Donald Trump in an attempt to have six Wisconsin Counties listed in a presidential disaster declaration.
The Washington County writeup in the 24-page letter is below.
Washington County
During the late evening hours of Saturday, August 9, 2025, heavy rainfall began inundating areas throughout Washington County, including the city of West Bend; the villages of Germantown and Richfield; and the towns of Farmington and West Bend. This heavy rainfall persisted through the early hours of Sunday, August 10, 2025, with a total accumulation of 10-13 inches in localized areas throughout the county.
The excessive rainfall in a short amount of time resulted in flash flooding along the Milwaukee River. These floodwaters inundated several homes and commercial buildings, and overwhelmed sewer lines throughout the county, resulting in the spread of sewage
into basements.
The heavy rainfall impacted roadways and increased calls for service for first responders for flood related emergencies. On August 10, two Germantown residents were found unconscious from carbon monoxide poisoning produced by a generator in their garage. The couple needed to use the generator due to power outages caused by the storm to operate a sump pump.
As a result, one resident died and the other survived the incident after being transported to a nearby hospital. This was not the only emergency to occur in Germantown. As the Menomonee River continued to rise, one neighborhood in the village became overwhelmed with flooding, and a voluntary evacuation of 948 residents occurred.
On August 12, Germantown High School was used as a temporary shelter for eight of those residents. During the voluntary evacuation, the Salvation Army partnered with the
Milwaukee Fire Bell Club to provide refreshments to first responders who were conducting
evacuations in the affected neighborhood.
Municipalities throughout the county received emergency calls for many issues, including downed trees and power lines, trapped motorists, including one woman who was in labor and on her way to the hospital, and traffic control problems due to traffic light outages.
Municipal services were activated to prevent additional damage from taking place during the flood event. The impacts from this flooding event are widespread, affecting homeowners, businesses, critical infrastructure, and the agricultural industry in Washington County.
The event caused significant damage to residential homes throughout the county. One residential structure was destroyed, and 63 houses experienced major damage from water and sewage entering the basements of structures. On top of this, four rental units and five multi-family housing structures in the county received major damage. Several individuals and families were displaced due to flood waters compromising foundations and sewage backups into basements and living spaces.
All residents who have vacated their homes have done so due to structural concerns,
increasing mold concerns, and other severe damage, such as HVAC and water heater destruction.
As a result, many people are relying on family or nearby hotels to secure safe and reliable shelter. An initial $1.82 million in public infrastructure damage is estimated throughout Washington County. Those include road washouts, closures, and bridge damage; public building and equipment damage; debris removal costs; and additional damage to water control facilities, utilities, and parks/recreation facilities.
Many roads and bridges were either washed out or destroyed, including the Indian Lore Bridge in the town of Farmington. This bridge serves as the primary route for all traffic. It experienced significant damage and was rendered impassable, causing traffic to be rerouted by as many as 10 miles.
Emergency services response times increased, resulting in delays reaching residents in need of assistance. Several other roads throughout Washington County were also affected by flooding, causing closures to the public and transportation delays.
Several public buildings and equipment were impacted during the event, with damage estimated to exceed $500,000.00. This has the potential to limit the countywide services available to residents during response and recovery operations. In addition, the West Bend Library and Recreation Center closed due to flooding, eliminating resource lifelines for individuals in need of services and community support.
Police departments, fire services, and parks/forestry departments throughout the county worked to clear debris, remove downed trees, and respond to flooded areas to keep the public safe. These actions stretched the capacity of the municipalities, resulting in multiple local state of emergency declarations.
The business district in the village of West Bend experienced 18 inches of flooding, causing several small businesses to close for a week or more to clean up and repair the damage. This resulted in a loss of wages and salaries for several employees, creating a strain on families and individuals in the community.
Local farmers were also severely impacted by the failure of the Indian Lore Bridge. The closure of the bridge resulted in farmers having to reroute their harvest transportation, creating delays, higher fuel costs, and inefficiencies in supply movement. Additionally, farm fields in the village of Richfield experienced significant flooding, which could result in the harvest being delayed.
The interruptions in agricultural processes will create a ripple effect throughout the surrounding communities, as 10 these farms provide food across the county. Lastly, the delays are likely to create financial hardship for farmers.
On top of these financial impacts, the amount of rainfall caused issues for sanitary systems and water supplies in several communities. There were sanitary sewer overflows at two lift stations in the village of Germantown. During this time, the Menomonee River nearly overtook a third lift station. To protect it, village staff worked to construct a dyke composed of compost, hay bales, and sandbags. The Department of Public Works also operated pumps for 72 hours straight to prevent the lift station from flooding.
In addition, a fire truck pumped 5.8 million gallons of river water away from the lift station for more than 65 hours. If the lift station by County Line Road had been compromised, thousands of additional basements could have experienced sewer back-ups.
In the city of West Bend, utility staff reported to the wastewater treatment plant to prevent flood waters from inundating the storm sewer systems. By putting additional pumps in place, they were successfully able to manage the volume of rainwater, river inflow, and effluent discharge.
The water supply in several communities was negatively impacted. The village of Richfield reported that several private wells may have been inundated with floodwater. Due to the number of vehicles and homes that were exposed to flood waters, the wells could be contaminated with toxins from fuel, household cleaning supplies, pesticides, and other contaminants. Several wells were flooded in the village of Germantown, forcing residents to take precautions with their drinking water and conduct testing to ensure it was safe for consumption.
Additionally, one of the wells in the village of Germantown was out of service due to a positive test for E. Coli. It is unknown whether the positive test was a result of flooding; Germantown is taking steps to identify the source of the problem.
Response actions to this event included many agencies across several days after the heavy rains and storms subsided. A larger portion of the impacted population throughout Washington County is elderly or has disabilities. Multiple churches distributed cleaning supplies and offered direct services to the elderly and disabled populations that were directly impacted by the flooding.
Click HERE to read the entire 24-page letter
Below are details on a Sept. 17, 2025, fundraiser for those on 16th Avenue impacted by the flood.
The Allenton Lion’s Club is also hosting a fundraiser brat fry on Friday, Sept. 5 and Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. with 50% of proceeds donated to the forgotten families on 16th Avenue in West Bend, Wi.
According to Lion’s member Joe Toth: Please help spread the word. Proceeds from this years Allenton Lions Fall Brat Fry will be split between the Texas Flood Victims at Camp Mystic and the West Bend Flood victims on 16th Ave.
Due to all the heavy rains this season, many in Texas lost their lives, homes, and way of life.
Many on 16th Ave in West Bend have severe damage to their homes and personal property. Unfortunately, some are without the means, assistance, or coverage necessary to rectify their situation.
We will be accepting cash or check donations (checks payable to The Allenton Lions) to this cause during our event on Friday and Saturday as well. So even if you don’t want to enjoy a brat or burger, feel free to stop out and watch our community rally together!
Hope to see you there!
West Bend, Wi – The West Bend community is uniting for the 16th Avenue Flood Relief Benefit to raise funds for families whose homes were severely damaged by record-breaking floods. The event is on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, from 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the back patio at Gary’s Place, 110 Wisconsin Ave., West Bend, WI. This benefit supports the Bettin, Christiansen, Damschen, Fellenz, Hanrahan, Jarr, Sabo-Gripentrog, and Wendt families, who suffered significant losses from the devastating floods on August 9, 2025. All proceeds will directly aid these families in rebuilding their lives.
Click HERE to learn more about the 16th Avenue Flood Relief Benefit in
West Bend, WI
Event Highlights
• Delicious Food and Beverages: Enjoy offerings from Gary’s Place, with 10% of proceeds donated to the families.
• Live Music: Local favorite Downtown Harrison will perform, creating a lively and uplifting atmosphere.
• Sample Beverage Tastings: Participating vendors will offer tastings to delight attendees.
• Charity Raffle: A raffle at 7:30 PM will feature prizes from local sponsors and a 50/50 raffle. Sponsorship opportunities are still available for businesses and individuals.
“The floods have been devastating for our community,” said event organizers Riley and Ashley Hansen, and Chris and Jenni Thompson. “This benefit is a chance for us to show kindness and support to our neighbors in need.”
Reservations and Sponsorships
• Indoor table reservations at Gary’s Place can be made by calling (262) 429-1003. No reservations are available for the back patio.
• To sponsor items for the charity raffle, contact organizers Riley and Ashley Hansen or Chris and Jenni Thompson directly.
Join us for an afternoon and evening of community, music, and generosity to support our neighbors. Together, we can make a difference for the 16th Avenue families.
Media Contact
Riley and Ashley Hansen
Chris and Jenni Thompson
Email: 16thaverelief2025@gmail.com
Phone: (262) 235-2862
About Gary’s Place
Gary’s Place, 110 Wisconsin Ave., is a beloved West Bend establishment known for its welcoming atmosphere and commitment to community events that unite people for meaningful causes.
Note: For sponsorship inquiries or additional details, contact the organizers directly.
Below is the original story that shown a spotlight on the victims.
August 17, 2025 – West Bend, Wi – Dumpsters line 16th Avenue near Walnut Street in West Bend, Wi, as neighbors make repeated trips from flooded basements carrying destroyed remnants of their lives. “The sewage came up quickly,” said one neighbor. “My basement wall collapsed, and I barely got out with my baby,” said another.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGTAvkkRYzs?si=b82BVo3dmUcJUQ2x]
Many homeowners on 16th Avenue are fearful to go on record with their complaints.
“We’ve been complaining for years that something needs to be done to fix the drainage and this street. All we got was higher taxes,” said a homeowner.
Scammers have already taken advantage of the elderly couple on the block. This article will only use first names to protect the residents from more hardship.
Now, with catastrophic damage from record rainfall the neighbors are stuck. Homeowners carrying a mortgage were told they couldn’t get flood insurance because they weren’t living in a flood plain.
“We hear things like it was the administration from 15 years ago that should have taken care of this. Now I’ve lost my home – there’s been absolutely no help.”
Jessica retracts that. “There was a mom and her daughter who came down the street handing out a cleaning product and gift cards to McDonald’s. Everyone cried; that was the most generous assistance we’ve received so far.”
The seven homeowners on 16th Avenue paid for Dumpsters on Monday, the day after storms last weekend. “We were told the Dumpsters could stay in the street for 30 days and we wouldn’t be fined,” said one exhausted homeowner. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Rita and Daniel have lived in their home on 16th Avenue for 58 years. They’ve never had water in the basement.
“I heard something Sunday morning about five o’clock, so i went to the basement, and saw the water coming up from the sewer. We never had that or any wet spots in the basement at all. The sump pump was running but there’s no way it could keep up,” said Daniel.
“The water was coming up about that high out of the sewer, and you got a sump pump that absolutely is not going to keep up. The water was so strong it shot up through the floor drain and started punching through the drywall.”
Questioned how many inches in his basement, Daniel said, “between three and four feet.”
“There’s a crack in the wall; we’ve got a foundation guy coming and everything was damaged including the furnace, washer, dryer, water heater, and water softener.”
Rita started to cry. She had been on the phone with insurance which said flood damage wasn’t covered.
Daniel said they were looking for help. “Some city officials have been through. I didn’t see the mayor. People were taking down information… but I don’t know,” he said. “I don’t know if we can get any outside help from the state or FEMA or anything like that.”
In the meantime a pile of wet items from their basement lies on their front lawn waiting for the $6,000 cleaning service. That coat is tacked on to $600 out of pocket for the Dumpster.
Cydney and Robert have lived in their home three years. “The date of the storm was the exact three-year anniversary that we bought the house,” said Robert.
Serving in the Army National Guard, Robert was up north when the storms came through. “My wife was alone here with the baby. She said around 5 a.m. she’s in the basement, and that’s when all the water came rushing in.”
The couple walk to the back of the home. Blue tarps cover a sink hole. A 15-foot-long section of wall has collapsed and there’s a clear line of sight into their basement.
“I was cleaning up water and saw it coming through the side windows, and then all of a sudden, there was cracking and breaking, and the water rushed in, and it almost took me out,” said Cydney. “I ran up the stairs and the wall collapsed.”
The couple said they had two inspections before purchasing the home.
“Our foundation is basically gone,” said Cydney. “Two guys from the city came by, they were just collecting numbers, like an estimate of damage. They took five pictures of the house and then moved on. I don’t think they’ve said anything yet about helping.”
The couple felt their future was in jeopardy. They said they’re looking for HELP.
Mikayla and Jake have lived in their home six years since June 2019. “We woke up to hell on Sunday …,” said Jake. “I think it was Sunday. This whole week is a blur.”
The couple heard the rain, looked out the window, saw it near the top of their four-foot fence and then went to check the basement.
“We heard running water and it was just pouring in through our basement windows,” said Jake.
“It was our finished basement, and we were trying to get all of our kids toys up to higher ground to save things. All of a sudden, I just seen bubbling from the floor, and I was like, oh my God, the sewer is backing up,” said Mikayla. “Within 10 minutes, it was already past my ankles. We had over three feet of water in our basement.”
Then the news got worse. “We came out to our front yard, and I had a brand new 2025, minivan, and it was up to the door handles in water. It’s totaled.”
The couple said this has been a nightmare. “We need help, just help,” said Jake. “And money, lots of money.”
Jake is self-employed and Mikayla said she burned though her paid time off. “Everything we had is now in that dumpster,” she said.
Jessica and Robert have lived in their home on 16th Avenue for three years. They watched as a huge pond formed in the street at the end of their driveway and then water started to creep towards their garage and their home.
“Any rain we get standing water,” said Jessica. “This is the lowest point of the street, so it all accumulates right at the end of our driveway, literally right at the end of our whole backyard and just puddles.”
Questioned if they’ve notified the city, Jessica said, “I expressed concern over a year ago about groundwater issues and lack of maintenance. As far as the street is concerned, there are sidewalk sinkholes popping up, debris in the sewer that could contribute to backup, and any groundwater issues as a result of rain that backs up from the creek it comes through this marsh area and behind our home.
“The water just bubbles up through the sewer systems and all the manholes, every time it rains heavy.”
Jessica said she’s asked for remediation efforts since there is a history of flooding in the area.
“The only confirmation I received was that this area is pretty low. I was sent the FEMA flood plain map, which I had already had. But the long and short of it is we’re told you can either sell and move or build up your lot,” she said.
“I also expressed to the city engineer that I had already tried to obtain some sort of flood insurance and we weren’t considered because our dwelling specifically, was not in the floodplain.”
Jessica said it was frustrating as there’s been knowledge of a history of flooding problems in the area but “minimal to no communication, at best.”
“We’re extremely frustrated. We’ve only been here since July of 2022, and this has been an issue since we moved in. What’s even more upsetting is that groundwater issues and previous issues with water coming up through the basement were never disclosed, by our home inspection or the real estate agent.
“We just want to let the city know that we’re upset and we’ve had half our life wiped away.
The house is gone. My son’s whole room is gone. Everything he owned is gone.”
Jessica and Robert said they have at least $70,000 worth of damage just in the basement. Click HERE to help.
“This is all happening around the same time we found out our property tax went up over $1,000 a year,” she said. “I am upset, because I’m wondering as a result of this, will the FEMA floodplain now be reevaluated?
“In my opinion, this whole half of the street and even maybe some of the homes on 15th shouldn’t be here to begin with; we all have similar issues where the water was coming from the drain in our basement.”
Below is correspondence between Jessica and the mayor.
A call was also placed to alderman Rhett Engelking. This article will be updated when information is available.
Date: Fri, Aug 15, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Subject: Re: N 16th Ave Tax Paying Residents
To: Ongert, Joel <mayor@westbendwi.gov>
The city simply does not care because there’s only a handful of us that stand to lose everything as a result. We are all upside down in our homes after this, and what’s worse is we qualify for ZERO assistance. Insurance companies are not even covering enough for cleanup. We have one neighbor whose home could literally collapse/implode any day now especially with more rain coming and his insurance offered 10K.
HE SERVES OUR COUNTRY SIR AND HAS A WIFE AND INFANT CHILD. We have all been on our own. My husband had to pump our elderly neighbor’s basement out as I watched what was left of ours disintegrate. It’s disgusting watching the lack of empathy and or steps as you referred to previously.
I’m so sorry for the loss of your home in the flooding. I can’t imagine the pain and uncertainty you’re going through right now. Please know that you are not alone—your neighbors, friends, and your city are here to support you in every way we can. If you haven’t already done so, please report your damage by calling 211. This is an important step in collecting data that can help us seek support from the federal government. West Bend is a strong and caring community, and together we’ll help you take the steps toward recovery.
Below is another article published Sunday, August 11, 2025 regarding damaged caused by flooding.
August 11, 2025 – Washington Co., WI — After a weekend storm dumped more than 10 inches of rain across Washington County, Wi, homeowners are dealing with flooded basements, damaged parking lots, waterlogged vehicles, fallen trees, and roof leaks. But according to local insurance agent Don Patnode, many residents are finding out the hard way that most of this storm damage is not covered under a standard homeowner’s policy.
“We’re getting plenty of calls,” Patnode said. “Unfortunately, these types of water events are not covered by a typical homeowner’s policy. If you’ve had water infiltration and your sump pump can’t keep up, or it fails, or there’s a power outage, you could have some limited coverage if you’ve purchased the right endorsement — but even then, it’s usually around $5,000. Most people are not going to have coverage for any of this stuff.”
Patnode said the first step is to review your policy. “If they don’t have the endorsement, we have to tell them to clean it up, remove their carpets and padding, and start the dry-out process,” he said. “It’s a very difficult conversation when you get this much rain. Industry-wide, groundwater infiltration just isn’t covered.”
Homeowners awoke Sunday to many instances of damage. On Silverbook Drive in West Bend, WI a family who lived in their home since 1965 had significant water in their finished basement. Another neighbor off of Fifth Avenue and Maple Street saw their back parking lot washed away.
Click HERE as Property Loss Management offers tips on how to deal with a wet basement
Damaged was scattered across communities like Richfield, Hartford, Slinger, and Germantown. There was a report of a collapsed basement wall and even a sinkhole on a front lawn on S. Main Street in West Bend.
Patnode said those losses typically won’t be paid by insurance. “Lightning is a covered peril, but your ground isn’t covered. If your yard washes away or your foundation is compromised by hydrostatic pressure, there’s no coverage for that.”
Roof and tree damage is a different story. “If you have a roof leak caused by wind or hail, that’s a covered peril. And if a tree branch falls on your house during a storm, that’s covered, too,” Patnode said. “But what we’re seeing right now is primarily groundwater building up in the soil and forcing its way into homes — and that’s not covered.”
The same principle applies to vehicles stuck in floodwaters. “Car flooding is covered under comprehensive auto coverage,” Patnode said. “If the car is totaled, the payout is based on the vehicle’s value minus the deductible.”
As more rain is forecast, Patnode urged homeowners to focus on mitigation. “Get rid of carpet, padding, laminate floors, and foam underlayment. Use dehumidifiers and fans — especially dehumidifiers. Turn your air conditioner down so it pulls more moisture out of the air. The key is to extract the water as soon as possible to avoid mold,” he said.
Patnode’s final piece of advice: “Call your insurance company, verify what coverage you have, and act fast to protect your home. The damage won’t wait, and neither should you.”
On a side note: The damaged parking lot was in West Bend, Wi behind BJ & Company. Jeff Rosenberg from SKB Lawn Care stepped in and volunteered his time and skid steer to helping clean up the debris.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykLEr8UslA0?si=8p-dQvV6E16pJzJW]