Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers declared a state of emergency on Tuesday, a day after a powerful tornado hit several communities in the state, causing widespread damage to homes, infrastructure and public services.
The executive order signed by the president indicates that the phenomenon, which made landfall on Monday, caused “widespread and significant damage” in the cities of Appleton and Menasha, located in the Fox Cities region, in east-central Wisconsin.
According to the National Weather Service's (NWS) preliminary assessment, the tornado reached an EF3 intensity on the Enhanced Fujita scale, with estimated winds of up to 140 miles per hour.
The tornado traveled about 12 miles
According to the NWS, the tornado touched down at approximately 11:56 a.m., about two miles west-northwest of Appleton, in Outagamie County.
The funnel remained active for about 12 miles, reaching a width of more than three-quarters of a mile in some places, before moving through the cities of Neenah and Oshkosh in Winnebago County. It finally dissipated over Lake Winnebago around 12:22 p.m.
In addition to the confirmed tornado, authorities are investigating three other possible tornadoes reported the same day in Wisconsin and Illinois, whose classification has not yet been confirmed.
Damage to homes, trees and electrical networks
The phenomenon left numerous homes damaged or destroyed, especially in Menasha, in addition to downing trees, poles and power lines.
Governor Evers indicated that public water supply systems were also affected and assured that the emergency declaration will allow all available state resources to be deployed to support response and recovery efforts.
“We continue to assess the devastation and destruction facing Wisconsin, especially in the Fox Cities, and we are committed to doing everything we can to help every family, business and community affected,” the president said.
Outagamie County authorities reported that multiple streets remained blocked by downed trees and debris.
Thousands of users were left without electricity
The passage of the storm system also caused extensive power outages.
On Monday afternoon, more than 400,000 customers in Wisconsin and Illinois were without power, according to PowerOutage.us. By Tuesday morning, the number had dropped to almost 248,000 users.
The Menasha government asked the population to avoid unnecessary travel due to the presence of fallen trees, electrical cables on the roads, debris and blocked roads, conditions that made access difficult for emergency teams and public service crews.
So far, the National Weather Service indicated that no deaths or injuries have been reported as a result of the tornado.
Assessment teams continue to inspect affected areas to determine the full extent of the damage.
The tornado was part of a large severe storm system that crossed eastern Wisconsin and northeastern Illinois, where large hail, strong winds and flash flooding were also reported, especially in the Chicago metropolitan area.
