Prepping in Milwaukee
In August 2025, a storm set Wisconsin's all-time rainfall record and flooded rivers, streets and basements across the Milwaukee area.
- Flash floods
- Extreme cold
- Severe storms
Sign up today
The official Milwaukee alert and lookup tools. Each takes a few minutes and works even if you do nothing else on this page.
- MKE AlertSign up for MKE Alert
The City of Milwaukee's free emergency alerts for weather, evacuations, fires and road closures. Text #MKEALERT to 24639, or register online.
Links checked October 2026. Wireless Emergency Alerts reach most phones automatically; these add local detail.
What can go wrong in Milwaukee
- Flash flooding
- Heavy rain floods rivers, viaducts and basements. August 2025's storm set a new state rainfall record.
- Extreme cold
- Arctic outbreaks bring dangerous wind chills, frozen pipes and heating failures.
- Blizzards and ice
- Heavy snow and ice cause outages and dangerous travel.
- Severe storms and tornadoes
- Summer storms bring damaging wind and tornado warnings.
- Heat
- Humid heat waves can be dangerous, especially in older homes without AC.
What that means for your plan
Protect your basement: keep valuables off the floor, and consider a battery backup for your sump pump.
Plan to stay warm without power: rated sleeping bags and a safe way to heat one room.
Never drive into flooded viaducts or underpasses.
Do these first, in this order
- MKE Alert and a NOAA weather radio
Flood and tornado warnings.
Radios and communication guide - Warmth without power
Extreme cold outages.
Lighting and staying warm guide - Power station
Sump pumps, phones and lights.
Power stations and generators guide - Two weeks of water
Basic insurance for any long outage.
Water storage and filters guide - Battery CO alarm
Indoor heating mistakes kill people every winter.
Power stations and generators guide - First-aid kit
Storm and cleanup injuries.
First aid and medical guide
Questions
How do I get emergency alerts in Milwaukee?
Text #MKEALERT to 24639 or register online for MKE Alert, the city's free emergency alert system.
How can I protect my basement from flooding?
Keep belongings off the floor, check that your sump pump works, add a battery backup, and keep downspouts draining away from the house.
How ready is your Milwaukee home?
The quiz weights every item for suburbs risks and shows your top gaps. About 3 minutes, no sign-up.