Gratitude in Action | A Giertsen Restoration Story
On the night of August 9, 2025, the skies ripped open over southeast Wisconsin. What began as heavy rain turned into a historic deluge when the Menomonee River, among other waterways, rose rapidly flooding neighborhoods, overwhelming the drainage systems and sending local emergency crews into action.
One of the hardest-hit areas was the city of Wauwatosa. According to the City of Wauwatosa, Emergency Dispatch Center, between August 9 and 10 the Dispatch Center logged more than 350 service calls, and the Wauwatosa Fire Department responded to 123 calls including flood-rescue operations, with approximately 70 people having to be rescued from the flood waters.
In the midst of this historic flood event lived the Young family. The sheer force of the floodwaters turned their quiet neighborhood into a scene of urgent rescue and recovery. The Youngs were rescued the following morning by a rescue boat when the flooding overwhelmed their home, a moment filled with fear, uncertainty and hope.
Gratitude & Recovery
- We are grateful to the first responders and Fire/EMS crews who answered the call that night. Rescuing families, pets and lending a lifeline when time mattered the most.
- We are grateful to the broader community. The neighbors, the local agencies, and the volunteers who stepped in to help clear debris. They checked on one another, brought supplies, food, and begin the long road to repair.
- We are grateful to the Young family for inviting us into their journey: trusting us when their insurance said flood damage wouldn’t be covered and allowing us to work hand-in-hand to restore their home with a sense of security.
Why it Matters
Flood damage doesn’t just affect floors and walls, basements and stored holiday decorations. It affects lives, memories and peace of mind. When traditional insurance doesn’t cover the kind of devastation that nature can unleash, it takes a coordinated effort to make things right. That’s why being ready for emergencies 24 hours a day, seven days a week means more than having equipment. It means being a partner in recovery, serving people when they need us most.
A Note of Thanks
To the Young family, thank you for your courage, your resilience, and your willingness to let us stand with you. To everyone who answered the call that night – Thank You for your dedication and humanity. And to our team at Giertsen –Thank You for being ready around the clock, because when the waters rose, so did we.
“We didn’t think the insurance would help… then we found help.” The Young Family