More than 100 dead after flooding in eastern Congo, official says
The flooding, which affected the village of Kasaba, comes at a vulnerable moment for the Central African nation. Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have intensified an offensive in the eastern region since the start of the year, with thousands killed in fighting in the first two months of the year.
Samy Kalodji, administrator of Fizi territory in South Kivu province where the village is located, said late on Saturday that reports from the area "indicated more than 100 deaths."
The affected area is still under the administration of Kinshasa and is not among the zones taken by M23.
Didier Luganywa, spokesperson for the South Kivu government, said in a statement the flooding incident occurred between Thursday night and Friday when torrential rains and strong winds caused the Kasaba river to overflow its banks.
The statement gave a toll of 62 confirmed deaths with 30 injured.
Local officials said the Kasaba area was only accessible via Lake Tanganyika and was not covered by the mobile phone network, which could delay humanitarian relief efforts.
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Milwaukee County urges residents to report damage as part of an effort to seek federal aid
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley is mobilizing efforts to obtain federal aid in the wake of historic flooding in southeastern Wisconsin. On Aug. 12, Crowley conducted a walkthrough of the Milwaukee neighborhood around North 39th Street and West Hope Avenue to assess the damage and offer guidance and support. He urged all residents to report any damage to homes and property through the county's 211 social services hotline. That's because obtaining federal aid through the Federal Emergency Management Agency is only possible if an area documents a certain threshold of damage costs, according to the county's Office of Emergency Management. The OEM's Deputy Director Chris McGowan could not immediately provide what that threshold is for Milwaukee County or how close the county is to meeting it. But McGowan did say the office is "already anticipating we will be over that threshold." The OEM is currently spearheading efforts to assess damage across the county with support from the City of Milwaukee, volunteer groups, the state's Incident Management Team and other county agencies. McGowan said the initiative could take between several weeks and several months. Initial estimates already indicate that 11% of the damage reported to 211 is categorized as "fully destroyed," which rivals a major hurricane, McGowan said. The more people who report damage, the more likely Milwaukee County is to reach that threshold sooner and qualify for federal aid, Crowley said during the walkthrough. The neighborhood Crowley visited to assess damage was hit hard by flooding For blocks, piles and piles of water-damaged items sat near the curbs outside of homes: mattresses, suitcases, printers, moldy clothing items and damaged photos were among the heaps. It's a similar story across the county, damage assessors said. Crowley and other responders stopped at the home of Collette Anderson and her son Da'lin, who said most of the cars on their block aren't working after the street flooded with around 3 feet of water for about 12 hours. Their home also sustained significant damage, the Andersons told Crowley. Da'lin said it meant a lot to see Crowley out in their community, offering guidance and support. Another resident Crowley visited, Tamela Montgomery, said the impact of flooding has been devastating to her neighborhood. "We start from the bottom, trying to get these things for ourselves, and it's all taken away in the blink of an eye," Montgomery said. She was shocked at the speed with which her home filled with water, destroying all the toys and games she'd bought for her five grandchildren. "It was horrific," Montgomery said. "We were swimming." Crowley said, "folks are not only losing their homes but their memories." How close is the county to qualifying for federal aid? Crowley said the county and the state are still gathering information on the total impact of the damage caused by the flooding. Already, the county has received thousands of calls, he said. "Whether or not we reach that threshold, our job is to show up for people while they're going through one of the worst times in their life," Crowley said. Crowley issued a countywide emergency on Aug. 10 Crowley said he has not had any contact with the Trump Administration. How Milwaukee County residents can report flood damage: Residents can report damage to the county by calling 211 or by filling out forms on the county website. Crowley said all county residents seeing damage, especially those without insurance, should report it. FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration also offer applications for individual loans and grants to people in areas with declared disasters. During the walkthrough, Crowley thanked local partners, state agencies and community groups who've been out across the county finding ways to help their neighbors. "The only way we're going to get through this is by continuously working together, leaning on one another," Crowley said. "We've been doing a great job of that. Let's keep going." (This story was updated to change or add a photo or video.) Contact Claudia Levens at clevens@ Follow her on X at @levensc13. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee County urges residents to report flood damage via 211 line Solve the daily Crossword
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Lines at Milwaukee dump centers expected to peak in coming days as flood cleanup advances
Chris Shefferly is inching closer to his final trip to Milwaukee's drop-off center, his truck bed filled with a flood-soaked bed frame, mattress and rugs. He's been waiting in line for the past 20 minutes, with about a block more to go. "Coming early in the morning makes a difference," he said. Thousands of Milwaukeeans have visited the city's two drop-off centers in the days since historic flooding left homes and countless possessions damaged or destroyed. Meanwhile, city crews are traversing the city, picking up soaked belongings piled on the sides of streets. More than 1,200 vehicles came to the city's two dump sites on Aug. 11. That figure rose to more than 2,000 the following day, Milwaukee Public Works Commissioner Jerrel Kruschke said at a news conference Aug. 13. More: Here are the latest updates on Milwaukee-area flood debris drop-off and pickup, free offers, shelters Some people have waited an hour and a half to drop off their destroyed possessions, and Kruschke expected to see a peak in drop offs in the coming days. The department is extending the hours at the two sites to 6 p.m. through Sunday, and has made the service free. The centers accept electronics, which are not accepted through curbside pick-up. For those who arrive later in the day, the Department of Public Works will mark the end of the line toward closing time so people are not turned away after waiting, Kruschke said. At 10 a.m. on Aug. 13, a line of 32 cars waited at the Lincoln Avenue drop-off center, wrapped around the Wendy's on South 43rd Street. Residents who were waiting in line offered one piece of advice: come early. The wait was shorter on Aug. 11 when Shefferly made his first trip to the drop-off center early in the morning, he said. He and his family were watching the Packers game when their basement flooded. They came home to a mess, but Shefferly said the damage isn't as bad as it could have been. "We were lucky," he said. How long cleanup will take in Milwaukee unclear The task of cleaning up the city won't be easy — or quick. Tens of thousands of homes have been impacted, Kruschke said. The city has about 105 regular garbage crews out, supplemented by 12 skid crews and, in some neighborhoods, backend loaders. Some crews are working 14-hour days, Kruschke said. "How long is it going to take?" he said of the cleanup effort. "We don't know." He asked residents to help by sweeping up any small pieces of debris that remain after city crews have gone by. On the morning of Aug. 13, a three-person city crew equipped with a skid steer, a dump truck, shovels and rakes was making its way up North 19th Street, picking up pile after pile of debris sitting outside homes. Car seats, bed frames, drywall and much more lay discarded on the curb. Each pile represents a family tragedy, Mayor Cavalier Johnson said. "You see what people put on the curb, things they care about: photo books, memories, things folks don't want to lose but have lost in the course of this flood," he said. Alderwoman Andrea Pratt, whose district the crew was working in, described one resident who lost the belongings of her mother who had recently passed away. Others without basements saw their living spaces flooded, she said. Internally, the department is using a new smartphone application to mark areas that need bulky waste pickup, which city officials said has made the cleanup more efficient and allowed them to prioritize the hardest-hit areas, like North 19th Street. "It's been a gamechanger," Kruschke said of the app that was implemented about two months ago. He urged residents to use the city's online portal or call 414-286-CITY to request pickup. Back at the Lincoln Avenue dump center, resident Bryan Ewerdt waited in his truck at the back of the line. The bed of his truck and trailer were full. He said he circled the drop-off centers on Industrial Road and Lincoln Avenue a few times mid-day earlier this week, but didn't think the wait in line was worth it. "The line looked over a mile long," Ewerdt said. This time, he joined the line around 10 a.m. The line picked up a little speed. "We're moving!" Ewerdt shouted excitedly. Alison Dirr can be reached at adirr@ Gina Castro is a Public Investigator she can be reached at gcastro@ This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Thousands flock to Milwaukee's dump centers as flood cleanup continues
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After historic flood and devastating losses, Milwaukee begins a new path forward
Block after block across metropolitan Milwaukee, piles of soaked carpets, waterlogged appliances and furniture stained beyond recognition now slump in front yards and along sidewalks. These are spaces where summer should be lived, not filled with debris. The streets tell the story of families turned inside out by a 1,000-year flood, as cherished keepsakes, family photos, childhood drawings — in some cases, all the reminders of lives lived, now washed away. And in town centers, beloved restaurants, local shops, small businesses, cornerstones of the community where we gather and make memories are grappling with how to move forward. There's little doubt that climate change is here — whether it's wildfire smoke lingering in our air, warmer winters and disappearing ice on our Great Lakes or relentless summer heat waves. But those events seem to pass and life resumes. Not this time. This will take much longer. "It was a devasting event that just unfortunately caused a lot of heartache for people throughout the region," said Kevin Shafer, executive director of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District. For years, scientists have warned about what can happen when climate change supercharges extreme weather events. This is exactly what they meant. As the planet warms, air can hold onto much more water, so when the weather conditions line up, like they did on Aug. 9 and 10, and into Aug. 11, storms can release more rain. A warmer climate also creates weather systems that move slower. More water from a storm that sticks around longer creates prolonged, heavy rainfall and flooding. The result is that it's become harder to use historical data because climate change is altering things so drastically; the past is no longer a good predictor of the future. Regardless, scientists say that climate change is increasing the likelihood that these intense deluges will happen within any given year. We were paying a price even before this month. A new report by the Wisconsin Policy Forum outlined how Wisconsin has seen an increase in damage caused by flooding, in turn leading to dramatic spikes in flood insurance claims and payouts. There are also serious impacts to mental and physical health. Floods are Wisconsin's second-most frequent disaster declaration, the same report said, resulting in $123.7 million in damages since 1999. And that dollar figure was compiled before this summer. So far, Milwaukee County has a preliminary estimate that damages to roads, park systems, bridges and waterways from this month's event is roughly $23 million. That number is expected to grow. The story is told in personal losses Of course, all those numbers have people behind them. There is Kevin Knitter, who told the Journal Sentinel that he and his wife Katie did not purchase flood insurance when they bought their Wauwatosa home because it was not in the floodplain. The Knitters evacuated as water filled their basement and rose into the first floor. They ended up in a rescue boat with their daughter, two dogs and a goldfish. And they learned the floodplain maps had changed in 2024, and their home was now inside the boundaries. And there is Eric Wagner, founder and CEO of the Lowlands Group, which owns Café Hollander, who got his first call about the Wauwatosa location at 6:30 a.m., on Aug. 10. Water had started coming into the basement kitchen, and eventually rose to four feet. 'When there's pressure from the river, the water starts getting into the drywall. There was equipment floating everywhere and the electrical got all burned out,' Wagner told the Journal Sentinel. He's now looking at a six-week reconstruction and costs approaching $1 million. At Paul Davis Restoration, roughly three calls per minute — yes, minute — have been coming in from customers needing help with flood damaged property. 'This is pretty unprecedented,' said Ariel Flary, business development manager. 'Every call that comes in, we call back and touch base and see if they still need service.' Flary said crews from Appleton and Waukegan, Illinois, have traveled, and occasionally stayed in hotels, to try to keep up with the calls for service. 'Some people have lost entire homes and then have been told they're not covered (by insurance),' Flary said, adding the company is also cautious about working its employees too much, and checks to make sure they get breaks and stay hydrated. More: River revival: Milwaukee's long-neglected Kinnickinnic River is on the verge of a revival Rain totals surpassed 10 inches in parts of Milwaukee County Since 1950, Wisconsin has become on average 17% wetter — or roughly 5 inches more precipitation, according to the latest Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts report. The southern two-thirds of Wisconsin has experienced the biggest increase in rainfall. The Aug. 9 to 10 storm ranks second for a two-day rain event since the National Weather Service began recording that data in 1871. Calling it a 1,000-year flood event can be somewhat confusing because the label is based on probability, not time. It doesn't mean that it happens once every 1,000 years. Instead, it's a flood that has a 1-in-1,000 chance of occurring in any given year. According to rainfall totals from the sewerage district, the highest total rainfall amount in the city of Milwaukee — and county, too — during this storm was recorded at 8135 W. Florist Ave., which had nearly 15 inches from Aug. 9 to 11. River Hills had the highest total amount of rain out of Milwaukee County suburbs at nearly 11.5 inches. Within the overall storm, the most intense period was specifically during a 12-hour stretch from 7 p.m., Aug. 9, to 7 a.m., Aug. 10, according to Andy Boxell, meteorologist at the National Weather Service. In Waukesha County, a reporting station just south of Menomonee Falls registered 12.05 inches in that time frame. Pewaukee recorded 12.61 inches; Waukesha received 9.75 inches. In Washington County, Germantown logged 10.58 inches during that span. 211 damage reports continue to rise As people with flood damage continue to assess their situation, and some realize they can't go it alone, the number of calls to 211 keeps growing. The confidential helpline helps with a wide range of needs, like housing, food, transportation, and healthcare. It's the best connection to resources at this point, Milwaukee Health Commissioner Michael Totoraitis said. More than 11,500 requests for flood-related services have come in to 211 from across Milwaukee County and the surrounding Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington counties as of the afternoon of Aug. 14. Of that number, roughly 85% of the requests for service came from Milwaukee alone. The helpline saw a spike in calls on Tuesday and Wednesday, with over 3,100 reports each day. Preliminary 211 data showed the highest number of requests came out of Milwaukee County's northwest side, along with West Milwaukee, in particular from ZIP codes 53218, 53209, and 53216. Reports from 211 calls also included basement water depths, utility disruptions and structural damage. The 53218 ZIP code, which includes the north side's Silver Spring and Hampton Heights neighborhoods, stood out with 1,851 damage reports, the highest among all the ZIP codes listed. It also had the highest number of utility disruptions, with 1,448 reports, and 850 structural damage reports. It's average water depth report was 26 inches. The basement water reports across Milwaukee County averaged 19.2 inches. The deepest average basement water was reported in 53219, just west of Jackson Park on the city's south side, at 35 inches. More than 12,000 calls reported utility disruptions and almost 7,000 reported of structural damage. The data is self-reported, according Vickie Boneck, the spokesperson for IMPACT 211, the designated provider of 211 services in southeastern Wisconsin. The numbers continue to change as 211 continues to receive calls and messages. For example, Boneck noted that as water is receding in basements, the reports, too, show a decrease in the average inches reported. Of the data collected, 2-1-1 reported more roughly 5,000 referrals for storm-related needs, including connecting those who reached out to the county's office of emergency services, post disaster cleanup tools and supplies, disaster food stamps and food pantries. Milwaukee officials have repeatedly urged residents to report damage to 211. The reports help bolster the push for federal assistance to address widespread damage from the flooding. The reports also serve as another source of data the city is using to identify the hardest-hit areas. For example, the Milwaukee Health Department is using the data to determine where to send cleaning kits. He encouraged residents to submit damage reports either by calling or submitting a report online when call times are longer. And, he said, residents should urge others to report their damages as well. "That 211 data is really guiding what the city can do," Totoraitis said. "And then as we get – fingers crossed – that money unlocked from the feds, that we can then use that information to prioritize helping someone get a new water heater or whatever that support looks like." He also urged residents to use their insurance, take photos of damage and write down a timeline to help the claims process move forward. The 211 data provides one view into the extent of the damage. Other data collected by the city is also helping guide its response. That includes information from the Department of Public Works, which is marking areas that need bulky waste pickup. The Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services is also inspecting homes in the city and neighboring suburbs to assess the extent of the damage. As if the afternoon of Aug. 14, there had been 2,916 homes inspected. Of those, 5% were destroyed, 55% had major damage, 17% had minor damage and 12% were listed as "affected," the lowest level of concern, according to the department. In 11% of the homes, inspectors were unable to gain entry to the premises. Despite damage, Milwaukee on its way to climate resiliency While many parks and green spaces across the region were overwhelmed during the storm, they ultimately did what they were designed to do − absorb and hold water, minimizing damage to nearby homes and businesses. Shafer pointed to Wauwatosa's Hart Park, which was inundated but helped prevent even worse flooding downstream. 'This storm reinforced that the work we've done so far is worthwhile,' Shafer said. 'Without these investments, the damage would have been significantly worse.' Still, he emphasized that more must be done. "This was a wakeup call for us," Shafer said. "And I think it's going to lead us to much better discussions about the future." While the devastation is undeniable, Shafer said the region's much more prepared than it was 30 years ago. He called for a continued focus on green infrastructure and a watershed-wide approach – strategies that include removing impervious surfaces and improving park spaces to handle stormwater more effectively. These efforts not only protect people's homes and businesses but also build long-term resilience against increasingly intense storms. "We've taken huge steps over the last 25 years," Shafer said. "And we need to continue that for the next 25." Ricardo Torres, Bridget Fogarty, Cathy Kozlowicz, Rachel Bernhard and Sophia Tiedge contributed to reporting on this story. Caitlin Looby covers the Great Lakes and the environment for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Reach her at clooby@ and follow her on X @caitlooby. Caitlin's work is supported by the Brico Fund, Fund for Lake Michigan, Barbara K. Frank, and individual contributions. Grants and donations help make this reporting possible. The Journal Sentinel maintains full editorial control. To learn more about our community-funded journalism initiatives, or to make a tax-deductible donation, visit Checks can be addressed to Local Media Foundation with 'JS Environment' in the memo, then mailed to: Local Media Foundation, P.O. Box 85015, Chicago, IL 60689. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: How Milwaukee emerges from floods, climate change, heartbreaking loss
