Marquette Addresses Flooding After Heavy Rainfall

Campus crews work to mitigate water issues and power loss, as more storms are forecast for the weekend.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 6:23pm

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A sweeping, atmospheric landscape painting depicting a flooded university campus, with only the tops of buildings visible above a vast, turbulent sea of churning floodwaters, conveying the overwhelming power of nature.The devastating floodwaters that have inundated Marquette's campus serve as a stark reminder of the university's vulnerability to the growing threat of extreme weather events.Today in Milwaukee

Marquette University's Facilities Planning and Management teams have been working around the clock to address flooding and water damage issues on campus following heavy rainfall in the Milwaukee area over the past few days. Several buildings have experienced water intrusion, power outages, and other impacts, with crews continuing to assess and remediate the problems. As additional severe storms are forecast for the coming weekend, the university is providing safety reminders to the community about the dangers of flooding.

Why it matters

Severe weather events can pose significant risks to university campuses, disrupting operations, damaging infrastructure, and threatening the safety of students, faculty, and staff. Marquette's proactive response and communication efforts are crucial to protecting the community and minimizing the impacts of the flooding.

The details

Many of the water issues on campus were concentrated near building entrances and in sub-basements due to city storm drain backups. Facilities crews worked with outside contractors throughout the night to address the problems. A temporary power loss at Carpenter Tower has also impacted water remediation efforts, with a backup generator currently operating at the building. Office of Residence Life staff are communicating directly with Carpenter Tower residents.

  • The heavy rainfall occurred over the past few days in the Milwaukee area.
  • Additional severe thunderstorms are forecast for the Milwaukee region on Friday evening into Saturday morning.

The players

Marquette University Facilities Planning and Management

The department responsible for maintaining and repairing the university's buildings and infrastructure.

Carpenter Tower

A residential building on Marquette's campus that experienced a temporary power loss due to the flooding.

Office of Residence Life

The department at Marquette that oversees and supports on-campus housing and student life.

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What’s next

The university will continue to monitor the weather forecast and provide updates to the community as the situation evolves. Facilities crews will remain on-site to address any new issues that arise from the anticipated severe storms this weekend.

The takeaway

Marquette's proactive response to the flooding, including communication with the campus community and ongoing efforts to mitigate the impacts, demonstrates the university's commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of its students, faculty, and staff during extreme weather events.