Ever since Milwaukets were washed away by large floods more than two weeks ago, two men were found drowning and at least two other disappearances – all from the same homeless camp.
Relatives and homeless supporters sound alarm, urging the city to do more to determine whether deaths are linked to floods, and find those that disappear.
Meanwhile, police said more evidence was needed to search.
That’s what to know.
Who are the men who died?
48 -year -old Juan Carlos Sierra Campos and 72 -year -old Isaias Serna was found in the day after August 9th. Tidal.
It was known that both men live at the campground under the bridge at the intersection of South Chase Avenue and South 1st Street, Kinnickinnic River, according to the data of the homeless information groups.
Campos was recovered from Lake Michigan on August 10, and Serna was found in the river on August 13.
Minister of Minister Urban Christian Outreach Mission, a faith -based homeless defense group, visit the camp every Friday. The founder Linda Alvarado remembers the presence of Campos and Serna at the camping day before the floods.
The Campos family created the Gofundme page to cover the expected $ 12,000 to send his body back to his home country in Honduras.
Has the city announced that these deaths are related to floods?
The Milwaukee Police Department and the Milwaukee County Medical Expert Office said Campos’ death “did not seem” flood. They did not explain how they made that decision.
On August 10 at a press conference, the mayor Cavalier Johnson said at a press conference that there were no floods of death at the press conference shortly after the body of Campos was discovered.
Serna’s body was regained three days later. The medical expert’s office said his death could be related to floods.
Who else is missing the campsite?
Family members say that Miguel Flores, 59, who also lived in a campsite, was lacking from floods. Arthur Vazquez, the nephew of Flores, announced that he had disappeared on August 14th.
Flores visited his sister’s home and in Kaszub every day, but the family did not see him from the day before the flood, said another Flores nephew Juan Vazquez.
Flores did not go back to work either. All this is not character to him, the Vazquez Brothers said.
Maria Flores has a photo of her missing brother Miguel Flores, as family and community members gathered to look for him in 2025. August 23 In Milwaukee. Miguel Flores, who lived in a homeless campsite under the bridge South Chase Avenue and South 1 on the street along the Kinnickinnic River, is one of several people who are not counted because the historic flood slipped through Milwaukee.
Another man known only as Pedro lived in a campsite and, according to Alvarado, was not visible from floods. Alvarado and others with the Outreach Group recall Flores, Pedro, Campos, Serna and perhaps each other person who is there the day before the flood.
What efforts are you made in finding missing people?
The Milwaukee Police Department is not actively looking for men. The department said she needed more evidence that they had been flooded with floods, and the Mayor Cavalier Johnson’s office said it depends on emergency services to make decisions on search efforts.
Instead, the search efforts were led by relatives and community members.
August 22 Brew City Bayak and Milwaukee Pedal and Paddle Tavern rounded four kayaks and 22 -foot electric Milwaukee Duffy boat to look for Kinnikinnic River for several hours.
The Flores family also organized a full -day search in the river and around 23 August.
Arthur Vazquez says the family plans to look again at the river on August 30th.
A person finds a shoe that may belong to Miguel Flores along the Kinnickinnic River, 2025. On Saturday, August 23, Milwaukee. Miguel Flores, who lived in a homeless campsite under the bridge on South Chase Avenue and South 1 on the street by the river, is one of several people who are not counted because the historic flood through Milwaukee slipped.
Why isn’t it done anymore to find missing men?
The Milwaukee Police Department does not consider Flores “critically”. This label is intended for certain vulnerable groups such as children or people with certain health problems would cause a more active search.
The department’s standard work procedure says that people who are missing after disasters can be considered “critical”, but the department spokesman said Flores did not match because no “noticed that water is swept away.”
How many people lived in the campsite?
It is difficult to know some of it. Homeless supporters say that several people lived there over the years.
This campsite was one of the first Street Angels points when the group was founded in 2016, said founder Eva Welch. Sometimes there was only one person and sometimes a few, Welch said.
Sarah Young, a volunteer of the homeless shelter under the bridge said that five to 12 people lived in a campsite.
Gina Castro is a public investigator that can be accessed by email. By email [email protected].
This article initially appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: homeless men found in sink