Heavy rains Monday cause partial building collapse, widespread flooding throughout Milwaukee area

WEST ALLIS, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Hours of pounding rain caused problematic flooding in many trouble areas Monday, Aug. 14.

In some cases, several feet of water kept some people from their homes.

The water was several feet high on Root River Parkway. One woman told her husband to stay at their daughter's house Monday night because he wouldn't be able to make it to their house.

They're frustrated that it keeps happening over and over again.

Daniel Belongia has lived in the neighborhood for about 10 years. He told us, "When it's supposed to rain, we put some things together in case we have to leave."

Belongia has a bag ready to go at all times, filled with enough supplies to live away from home for a few days.

He said several times a year, the Root River overflows its banks, flooding the street and many of the yards.

Belongia said, "We get ready to move. But how do you get out of here? All the roads get flooded, too."

Blockades were up to keep cars from driving through the high water, but Simo Gruichich said he had to risk it, just to get home.

"It was the worst I've ever seen. I've had it up to the bottom of the doors and whatnot, but this is the highest I've seen it, by far."

Gruichich's father joked they own lakefront property a few times a year because of the frequent flooding, and Simo's wake created waves for young kids surfing in the floodwater.

But it's not all fun and games.

Neighbors say they've asked the city to clear fallen trees that dam the river, but it either doesn't happen or isn't done well enough.

In 2005 and again in 2012, the city of West Allis and the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewage District bought and razed several homes at the end of the street because of repeat flooding.

Still, a woman in the now-last house on the street said she's had to help stranded drivers.

But many tributaries worked as designed Monday: in downtown Waukesha, the Fox River was churning as it cleared storm runoff, but elsewhere in town, some intersections still flooded.

Milwaukee police said the weather was responsible for a building partially collapsing.

Back on Root River Parkway in West Allis, neighbors thought the floodwaters would recede by morning, and they're looking out for the next storm so they're not caught off guard.

Belongia said, "When it came up to our door, we weren't ready for it, we wouldn't have been able to leave. We'd have to swim out."