August 2025 Historic Storm Teaches Lessons, Losses and Things We Need

And various comments from Reddit:

The Flood and Positive Role of MMSD in its Mitigation : r/milwaukee

"Based on all the data, it seems like this was one of if not the largest rain event in Southeast Wisconsin's history.

It also seems likely that if MMSD hadn't been preparing, building, and implementing green infrastructure for the last 30 years, it could have been much worse. In a world where Hart Park was still a neighborhood, the amount of catastrophic damage would have been disastrous. There have been some who've screamed that so much of what they've done was a waste, but in the light of all of this, that couldn't be farther from the truth.

We need to recover. However, also I think we need to be clear-eyed that this type of deluge will become more common as Milwaukee becomes rainier due to climate change. The work of MMSD is important. And their projects must move more quickly."

Thank you to all who provided this perspective, but, as the comment from Reddit says, these flood management projects must move more quickly. Specifically, MMSD is currently in the design and construction of flood management projects on the Kinnickinnic River, the most urbanized river in the State of Wisconsin, which has 660 homes and businesses in the floodplain. Construction of the Jackson Park flood management project will start full construction in 2028. The Wilson Park flood management project is being discussed with Milwaukee County Parks right now. We need to do all we can do to fund and accelerate these important projects.

Believe me, there will be another 1,000-year storm, we just don't know when.