APPLETON, WI — A confirmed tornado moved through the Appleton-Menasha area just after noon, leaving damage across parts of Northeast Wisconsin and triggering tornado warnings for the area and places farther south. Gov. Tony Evers said he had been briefed on the storms and that the state is ready to assist.
Officials in Outagamie County asked residents to stay home if possible because multiple roads were blocked and expected to remain closed for some time.
Crews assess the damage
First responders are still working to determine how widespread the damage is and to line up resources for people who may have been displaced. County officials also asked residents to hold off on reporting minor problems, such as downed trees or other non-threatening damage, so emergency crews can focus on urgent calls.
Appleton and other Fox Valley municipalities said they are responding to storm reports and assessing impacts as they come in.
Safety steps for residents
Officials are warning people to stay away from downed power lines and treat every utility line as live. Neenah police also told residents not to drive around barricades, not to enter closed areas and to limit non-emergency travel so first responders and utility crews can get through.
Residents were told to call 911 for emergencies and use non-emergency channels for other issues. Appleton police asked people to monitor social media for updates, and the FOX 11 Weather App was promoted for the latest alerts.
Cooling shelters and forecast
Menasha has opened emergency cooling shelters at Christ the Rock Church and The Elk Lodge to provide water and basic assistance. That comes as some parts of the area remain under a Heat Advisory until 7 p.m.
The weather is expected to stay warm and humid through the day, with a high near 85. Forecasters say conditions should turn sunny and less humid on Thursday, with a high near 80.
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