We are currently experiencing widespread flooding on Germantown roads, including downed trees, washed out shoulders, and stoplight outages. If at all possible, please stay in your homes until the water recedes.
Please monitor the Village website and Facebook page for further updates.
Proclamation Declaring a State of Emergency in Response to a Natural Disaster
The Village President has issued a Proclamation Declaring a State of Emergency in Response to a Natural Disaster. We experienced significant public and private damage during the storms last night and today. We don’t know the full extent of the damage yet, or how much it will cost to clean up and make repairs. This declaration is a step to keep the door open for possible State or Federal assistance. View the Proclamation here.
Flood Damage Reporting Form
The Village needs to conduct an assessment of the amount of damage to private property. This information will help with cleanup efforts and with applications for funding to help cover the costs.
If you have stormwater or sewer damage and have not already called Village Hall to report it, please contact Washington County Emergency Management. Washington County Emergency Management has partnered with Impact 211 to help answer calls reporting damage. They will take your information and report it to both the Village and Washington County. Please dial 211 on your telephone to reach Impact 211 or complete their Disaster Report HERE.
An alternate way to report your damage to the Village is to fill out the Flood Damage Info Form HERE.
Sanitary Sewer Overflow Notice
At 5:00 AM on August 10th, 2025, the Wastewater Utility commenced an initial sanitary sewer overflow at N116W17230 Main Street. A second sanitary sewer overflow was started at 8:50 AM on August 10th, 2025, at W172N10591 Division Road.
UPDATE: The initial sanitary sewer overflow has ceased discharging at the Main Street location on August 10th, at 5:05 PM.
The overflow is necessary to protect homes and businesses from severe damage and basement backups. The impacted waters are the Menominee River from Main Street to the harbor of Milwaukee. The public is asked to stay away from the waters and the area to prevent exposure to possible pathogens present in raw wastewater. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
What is a Sanitary Sewer Overflow and Why do they Happen?
We have been getting questions about what a sanitary sewer overflow is and why the heavy rain effects sewer systems. Unlike water lines, sewer lines and laterals are not pressurized and are not entirely watertight. Over time cracks develop, gaskets can deteriorate, tree roots can grow into cracks and rainwater can infiltrate the system. Many of these issues are on private sewer laterals. The Village has partnered and will continue to partner with MMSD on Private Property Inflow and Infiltration (PPI&I) programs to try to reduce the amount of rainwater that gets into the system. In addition, when there is flooding, water can enter the sewer system directly through sinks or toilets or drains in flooded areas. Our sewer system, like all sewer systems is not watertight. During a heavy rainstorm like we are having, the amount of rainwater that gets into the sewer system can cause extremely heaving flows that overwhelm our pipes and pumping stations. When this happens, we set up auxiliary pumps at our lift stations and pump the rainwater/sewage mix directly into the river. While this is obviously not good, it is better than having the sewage back up into basements. Residents can help alleviate this problem by reducing their water usage until the amount of water in the system subside. Our last overflow was in 2006 and once this event is over, we will analyze the data and see if there are any steps we can take to further secure our sewer system.
Roll-Off Boxes and Bulk Collection
Waste Management has started to collect flood damaged items from households that receive garbage collection from Waste Management at no charge to the Village or the residents. They are only picking up items that are on the Village’s Bulky Collection List found here: Bulk Items Collection | Germantown, WI - Official Website. Collection will not be according to the regular garbage collection. Residents do not need to call Waste Management to schedule a collection.
Village DPW staff will also start collecting flood damaged items from all areas of the Village starting on Monday, August 18th. Residents do not need to schedule a collection. Village crews will only make one pass through the Village and will not return to a neighborhood a second time.
Here are some important guidelines for residents to follow to make sure your items are picked up:
- All items must be placed at the curb in the right of way. Waste Management and the Village will not pick up items from driveways or in yards.
- Again, please limit the items placed at the curb to those on this list: Bulk Items Collection | Germantown, WI - Official Website
- Wet carpeting and padding will be picked up.
- Loose items must be bagged in contractor bags or a heavy-duty garbage bag.
- No appliances or electronics will be collected. (A number of private companies will take these items.)
- Village crews will pick up items that Waste Management is not able to pick up.
We anticipate that it will take 3-5 weeks to complete collection for the entire Village. To make sure that your items are collected, please get them to the curb as soon as possible. If you have neighbors who are elderly or who may have difficulty getting their items to the curb, please consider giving them a hand.
Please only use this collection for items that were damaged in the recent flooding. Village crews will not be inspecting items for flood damage, but placing other items out for collection means your neighbors who did have flood damage will have to wait longer for collection.
The Village also has dumpsters available at the DPW facility on Town 9 Road. You can drop off flood damaged items there, free of charge. The Village is not planning special brush collection at this time. Brush can be dropped off at the residential yard waste facility. Here are the hours: Residential Yard Waste Facility | Germantown, WI - Official Website
Storm Debris Collection Update
On August 19, DPW crews worked 11 hours and cleared Division, Wendy, Dotty, Whitetail Run to Misty Morning and most of Misty Morning. The crews took 3 garbage packer loads and 14 dump truck loads to the landfill. Crews will be working through Meadow Creek Crossing and into Willow Wood today, August 20. We are borrowing additional equipment from other communities and will increase collection efforts in the next few days. We appreciate your patience as we work through the Village picking up massive amounts of debris.
08/21/2025: DPW crews continue with curbside collection of storm-damaged debris from basements. Reminder that they will make one pass through Germantown (including areas that are not typically served by municipal garbage collection). Place the items for removal in the right-of-way by the roadside. They have made excellent progress through the most impacted areas of the Village. Three crews are assigned to the collection on Friday, August 22, 2025. A Saturday (August 23) crew will work 6AM-12PM, until Waste Management closes the dump for the day. Full collection will resume on Monday, August 25, 2025.
The dumpsters at the Department of Public Works facility will remain available over the weekend for storm-damaged debris only. Thank you for your patience as we make our way around.
Special thanks to the City of West Allis (City of West Allis WI Government), the City of Sheboygan (City of Sheboygan - City Hall), and the Village of Lisbon (Village of Lisbon, WI) for loaning critical equipment to this operation.
Road Closures / High Water Advisory
As of 08/12/2025 1:00pm, the below Village roads are closed. The Village will update this list as roads are evaluated by staff. Please do not drive around barricades/cones are they are in place for your safety.
- Rockfield Road at the Bonniwell Creek - closed west of Goldendale Road
Flood Damage Data Collection
Beginning after noon on 08/13/2025, inspectors from the Village will start the process of documenting and collecting data on the amount of flood damage on private property within the Village. They will start with residents who have called Village Hall or 211 to report damage. They do NOT need to enter your home or take any personal data from you. They will only be viewing the outside of your home and taking a few pictures. You do NOT have to call to schedule an appointment or even be home when they collect data regarding your home. They will be wearing yellow safety vests and identification cards indicating they are part of the Flood Damage Assessment Team from the Village of Germantown and will leave behind a flyer indicating they completed the inspection. CLICK HERE FOR SAMPLE FLYER
The data they collect will be submitted to the Washington County Office of Emergency Management and FEMA to determine if the Village is eligible for disaster recovery funds. If you have any questions or concerns, please call Village Hall at 262-250-4700.
Flooding Report Provided to Village Board
Village Administrator Kreklow and department heads presented a Flooding Report to the Village Board on Monday, August 18th. See the PowerPoint presentation here, and the Flooding Video here. To watch the full Village Board meeting video, visit the Village of Germantown YouTube channel.