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🇬🇧 United Kingdom /Disasters & Emergencies

Devastating tornado rips through Wisconsin communities, leaving homes leveled

From The Guardian · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Ongoing story
  • A powerful tornado caused widespread devastation across several communities in northeastern Wisconsin on Tuesday.
  • First responders are searching for potential victims amid leveled homes, flipped cars, and toppled trees and power lines.
  • Authorities noted the tornado struck in the early afternoon, which may have limited casualties as most residents were awake and away from home.

First responders are meticulously searching homes and buildings in northeastern Wisconsin for potential victims following a devastating tornado that ravaged multiple communities. The Fox Cities region, home to over 100,000 people including Appleton, Menasha, and Neenah, was left in ruins by Monday's twister, with significant destruction to residences, vehicles, and infrastructure.

The depth of the tornado and its impact is incredible, devastating. We’re really still at the assessment stage.

— Gordon HintzThe Winnebago county executive described the tornado's impact during a news conference.

Winnebago County Executive Gordon Hintz described the impact as "incredible, devastating," emphasizing that the assessment phase is still ongoing. Residents shared harrowing accounts of the storm's fury. David Chew recounted how a tree crashed through his roof in Menasha, while a neighbor lost a portion of her roof with furniture and drywall "sucked out." Chew described the event as a "shocker" as he rushed to the basement with his family.

It was just a shocker.

— David ChewA resident described his experience as the tornado struck his home.

Despite the extensive damage, authorities believe the timing of the tornado may have prevented fatalities. The twister touched down around 1 p.m. on Monday, a time when most people were awake and had received warnings. "Everybody was at work. It was the middle of the day," stated Menasha's Police Chief Matt Albrecht. "Most people were not at home and at their place of employment."

Everybody was at work. It was the middle of the day. Most people were not at home and at their place of employment.

— Matt AlbrechtMenasha's police chief explained why there might not be reported deaths despite the tornado's impact.

Dozens of individuals sustained injuries, and search efforts continued door-to-door on Tuesday. The tornado, which remained on the ground for over 20 minutes, carved a roughly 12-mile path of destruction. Governor Tony Evers has declared a state of emergency for the affected areas, and shelters have been opened for displaced residents. Power outages continue to affect thousands, with full restoration expected to take several days due to tangled power lines amidst the debris.

truly devastated

— Jake WoodfordAppleton's mayor described the condition of several neighborhoods after the tornado.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Guardian in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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