First responders searched homes and buildings on Tuesday for possible victims of a powerful tornado that ravaged several north-eastern Wisconsin communities. The Fox Cities region, home to more than 100,000 people in Appleton, Menasha and Neenah, was left in shambles by Monday's twister, with homes leveled, cars flipped, and power lines and trees toppled.
Assessment and impact
"The depth of the tornado and its impact is incredible, devastating. We're really still at the assessment stage," Winnebago County Executive Gordon Hintz said at a news conference on Tuesday. David Chew, 55, said a tree smashed through his roof in Menasha, and he still hadn't located an outdoor patio lounger swept away by the storm. He noted a neighbor was worse off: a portion of her roof was ripped clean, with furniture and drywall "sucked out."
Timing saved lives
"It was just a shocker," said Chew, who rushed to the basement with his wife and son. Despite widespread damage, the timing of the storm may explain why there have been no reported deaths. The tornado arrived in the early afternoon, authorities noted, when most people were awake and after warnings had been issued. "Everybody was at work. It was the middle of the day," Menasha Police Chief Matt Albrecht said. "Most people were not at home and at their place of employment."
Injuries and search efforts
Dozens of people were injured, and officers were still going door-to-door a day later in search of possible victims. The tornado touched down around 1 p.m. and remained on the ground for more than 20 minutes, cutting a roughly 12-mile (19 km) path of destruction, the National Weather Service reported. The area is about 100 miles northwest of Milwaukee.
Emergency response and power outages
Governor Tony Evers declared a state of emergency for the affected areas. Shelters were opened for displaced residents. As chainsaws roared in the background, Appleton Mayor Jake Woodford said a number of neighborhoods were "truly devastated." Like elsewhere in the region, electricity lines were tangled around broken trees, making power restoration a slow, risky process. More than 10,000 customers in Winnebago and Outagamie counties were still without power, according to utilities that serve them. It could be several days before power is fully restored.
Meteorological context
The twister was spun off by a large storm system that moved through the Great Lakes and was fueled by a buildup of heat and humidity, the weather service said.
