Communities in northeastern Wisconsin are beginning a long recovery after an EF3 tornado tore through the Fox Valley on Monday, blackening the midday sky and forcing workers to shelter in office basements. Officials said the storm caused extensive damage across the city of Menasha, the village of Fox Crossing and surrounding areas, with roughly 24 hours passing before the full scale of the destruction became clear.
The tornado brought down trees and power lines, leaving many streets impassable and, in places, trees tangled with electrical wires. A curfew was put in place for the city of Menasha and the east side of Fox Crossing, allowing emergency responders and public works crews to carry out their work safely after dark. The Wisconsin State Patrol was assisting with traffic control across the affected zones.
Power restoration quickly became one of the biggest challenges. WeEnergies said it had restored electricity to more than 80,000 customers across the state and expected around 90 percent of those affected to have power back by the end of the night, while crews would continue working in the Fox Valley on Wednesday. Officials noted that the city of Menasha runs its own municipal electric utility, separate from WeEnergies.
Crews also temporarily shut off natural gas service to about 154 customers in Menasha as a safety measure, with officials saying there were no active gas leaks. A boil water advisory was issued for Fox Crossing utility customers after a drop in water pressure, caused when the village lost two wells and their backup generators on its east side. An emergency generator was brought in from Fond du Lac to help bring a well back online.
Officials said the east side water system was not expected to be fully restored until the end of the week, as crews chlorinated the wells and carried out repeated safety tests. Residents were told they could still bathe but should boil water for drinking and washing dishes. The Menasha School District closed all of its schools and facilities, reporting that Gegan Elementary School and Calder Stadium had sustained significant damage.
Winnebago County set up an emergency operations center at the Sheriff's Office, coordinating local law enforcement from Fox Crossing, Menasha, Neenah and Oshkosh along with county public health, human services and emergency management. County Executive Gordon Hintz said officials were requesting a state emergency declaration and would then seek support from the National Guard to help with a cleanup that he said would require manpower and vehicles.
Emergency shelters were opened at locations including Christ the Rock Community Church, which was also designated as a reunification point for families. Cell boosters were being deployed to ease connectivity problems, and a volunteer effort was being coordinated through Volunteer Fox Cities. Officials repeatedly urged people to stay out of the restricted areas and to be respectful, warning that onlookers were hindering the cleanup.