Biohazard and Crime Scene Cleanup in Kenosha, WI: Every Question You're Probably About to Ask

If you've landed here, you probably have questions. We've structured this entire page as Q&A, organized by topic, so you can scan to what matters most right now. If you don't see your question, call us at (847) 861-7442 — an owner answers, 24/7.

About the situation

Is "crime scene cleanup" actually what I need? Almost certainly, the term itself doesn't matter — what you need is licensed biohazard remediation, and we provide that whether the situation is an unattended death, a medical event, an accident, a suicide, a violent crime, or a hoarding discovery. "Crime scene cleanup" is just the search term most people use.

What kinds of situations do you cleanup and handle in Kenosha? Unattended deaths, suicides, accidental deaths, medical events with biological cleanup, hoarding situations, animal/rodent waste cleanup, and actual crime scenes. Both residential and commercial properties.

What if it's not a crime — just a death at home? That's the most common situation we handle, in Kenosha and everywhere else. The process is the same.

Do you handle commercial properties, hotels, rental units? Yes — including coordination with property managers, landlords, and corporate accounts.

About timing

How fast can you respond to Kenosha? Two to four hours under typical conditions. We're based in Wadsworth, IL — about ten minutes south of the Wisconsin border.

Do I have to wait for the Medical Examiner first? Yes. The Kenosha County Medical Examiner's Office has to formally release the scene before any cleanup can begin. We'll do everything else ready in the meantime.

Can you come the same day? Almost always, yes. The exception is if scene release is delayed for investigative reasons, in which case we mobilize the moment we're cleared.

What hours are you available? 24/7. There is no closed window. An owner answers the phone.

About cost

What does it cost? We don't quote flat prices for this work because the scope genuinely varies by situation. Any company that quotes flat over the phone without seeing the scene is guessing.

Will I see a price before work begins? We can provide a range upon request. Due to the nature of the situations, if we are beginning the restoration same day, finalized invoicing will come after completion.

Does insurance cover it? Most Wisconsin homeowner's policies include biohazard remediation coverage following a covered loss, and many renter's policies include it too. Every policy is different — we work directly with your carrier on your behalf to determine what's covered.

What is Wisconsin Crime Victim Compensation? A state program administered through the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Office of Crime Victim Services. For eligible cases involving a violent crime, the program offers a total cap of $40,000 across all categories, with a specific sub-cap of $1,000 for crime scene cleanup. We can help connect you with a victim advocate at the Kenosha County District Attorney's Office.

Do you charge for the on-site assessment? The initial phone call and on-site assessment are free. You only pay once work begins, after you've reviewed and approved us to get started,

About privacy

Will the neighbors know what's happening? Almost certainly not. We use unmarked vehicles and uniforms with no visible company branding.

Will anything become public record? The police report and Medical Examiner's report exist as records, but our cleanup work itself is private between us, you, and (if you choose) your insurance carrier.

Will my employer / family / community know? Only if you choose to tell them. We don't disclose anything about any client to anyone other than the people you've authorized.

Can you communicate with my insurance directly so I don't have to? Yes. That's standard for us. We submit documentation, scope, and itemized invoicing directly to your carrier on your behalf.

About the work itself

What do you actually do? We remediate the affected area to a verified safe condition. That may include containment, removal of affected materials as regulated medical waste, source-level odor remediation, and verification. We provide full documentation when we're done.

Can I be at home while you work? Yes, but in another part of the house due to the chemicals. Many families choose to leave for the duration. Either is fine.

How long does a typical job take? Anywhere from a few hours for a small, contained scene to multiple days for a larger or more complex remediation. We give you an estimated timeline.

What happens to the items in the affected area? Anything that can be remediated, we remediate. Anything that has to be disposed of as regulated medical waste is properly documented before disposal. Personal items of meaning, when salvageable, we set aside and walk through with you.

About different situations

What about hoarding cleanup? Yes — we handle this work and approach it differently than a standard cleanout company because Sam's clinical specialization includes hoarding-related disorders.

Suicide cleanup? Yes, with the same care and discretion we bring to every other situation.

Vehicle remediation? Yes — we handle cars, trucks, RVs, and boats.

Animal hoarding or rodent infestation? Yes.

Commercial Disinfecting after an illness outbreak at a daycare? Yes, we use ESS fogging methods. --> Learn more.

About us

Are you really local to Kenosha? Yes. Our office is in Wadsworth, IL, about ten minutes south of the Wisconsin border. Kenosha is part of our core service area, not the far edge.

Are you a franchise? No. We are family-owned and independently operated. Co-owned by a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (Samantha) and an IICRC-Certified Trauma Cleanup Specialist (Ron).

Why does it matter that one of you is an LCSW? Because the technical part of this work is mostly a solved problem when done by trained, certified, equipped technicians. The difference is in everything around the work — the first call, the questions we ask, the way we treat the family throughout. That part is shaped by Sam's clinical background in trauma and grief.

Who answers the phone? One of the owners. Sam or Ron. Not a call center. Not a dispatcher. --> Read more about us

Are you licensed in Wisconsin? Yes — fully licensed, insured, and IICRC certified for work in both Wisconsin and Illinois.

What's your IICRC firm number? 70248813. You can find us on the IICRC Locator.

When you're ready

Great Lakes Biorecovery | 📞 (847) 861-7442 | ✉ Info@greatlakesbiorecovery.com

Serving Kenosha, Pleasant Prairie, Somers, and all of Kenosha County, WI — plus Racine County and northern Lake County, IL. IICRC Certified Firm #70248813. OSHA Compliant. Fully Licensed and Insured. Family-owned.

Dignified. Discreet. Done Right.