MILWAUKEE — O’Lydia’s Bar and Grill in Walker’s Point has reopened for business after more than two feet of water flooded their basement kitchen area over the weekend’s historic flash flooding.
The water saturated every walk-in cooler. Damages cost the restaurant a loss of all the food in basement storage, and a $7,500 ice bin replacement. It took over 20 people to clean and sanitize while the restaurant closed on Sunday and most of Monday.
“Right now we’re at a $28,000 loss between equipment and food and revenue,” Linda Sacket, owner of O’Lydia’s said. “I’ve heard some absolute horror stories, so I’m thankful that it wasn’t worse.”
Sacket worked with the City of Milwaukee Health Department to determine what could be salvaged and follow cleanup guidelines.
“O’Lydia’s was probably the best of the worst case scenarios that we’re dealing with,” MHD Director of Consumer Environmental Health Carly Hegarty said.
MHD has 14 food inspectors working with businesses impacted by the flooding including Toya’s Homestyle Kitchen, The Newport and Family Dollar on Silver Spring Dr.
Help is also available for homeowners. MHD is working to distribute cleaning kits to areas with the most damage, based on reports to the 211 help line.
“There’s a huge demand for those cleaning kits, so we’re really trying to be strategic with where we go,” MHD Commissioner Dr. Mike Totoraitis said. “That data from damage reports is the best route to ensure that we know that you need some assistance.”
Over 600 kits have been distributed so far by the American Red Cross and Salvation Army. According to preliminarily data from MHD, over 800 homes in Milwaukee have reported flood damage to the help line. Dr. Totoraitis said about one-third of those have major damage or worse.
On Wednesday, Governor Tony Evers formally requested Federal Emergency Management Agency support to help assess the flood damage. A formal assessment from FEMA and an official presidential disaster declaration are required for Wisconsin to receive federal disaster relief.
“Using your insurance and taking photos is really critical, and making sure you remember your timeline for things, those are all really key pieces as we go through this claims process,” said Dr. Totoraitis.
MHD does not have a timeline for the distribution of more cleaning kits, or when Wisconsin might receive FEMA aid.
