Gov. Tony Evers has mobilized the Wisconsin National Guard to assist recovery efforts in Winnebago County after an EF3 tornado ripped through the Appleton and Menasha area July 27, leaving widespread damage to homes and businesses.
National Guard members will help with debris removal, traffic and safety support, wellness checks and other services requested by county officials, according to Evers’ office.
“Neighbors are helping neighbors, volunteers are stepping up, and emergency personnel are working nonstop to clear roads, restore utilities, and make sure people have what they need,” Evers said in a news release. “I am grateful to our citizen soldiers in the Wisconsin National Guard who will help our neighbors in need, and together, we’ll recover and recover stronger.”
More than 1,000 additional volunteers were deployed in the community July 29, Menasha Mayor Austin Hammond said, and businesses have offered free meals and supplies to affected residents.
A request for assistance from the National Guard had been paused until municipal officials got a better handle on what resources were available and where the greatest needs would be.
“We now have a much clearer picture of the recovery effort and where additional help can make the biggest impact,” Winnebago County Executive Gordon Hintz said during a July 30 press conference.
“The National Guard can provide valuable support in areas such as debris management, logistics, traffic control and other missions that allow our first responders, public works crews and utility personnel to remain focused on other responsibilities,” Hintz said. “This recovery will be long, and the presence of National Guard members will help sustain the high level of work that this recovery will require.”
Evers announced he was activating the Wisconsin National Guard after touring damage in Menasha on July 30. He had previously declared a state of emergency in Outagamie, Winnebago, Forest and Vilas counties.
Wisconsin National Guard soldiers also helped with flood response efforts in Columbia County after severe storms in April that qualified for Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance for individual households. It’s possible Evers will later request FEMA aid for the July tornado and severe weather, based on damage assessments.
Evers has previously activated the Wisconsin National Guard to support hospital and nursing home staffing during the COVID-19 pandemic, to assist at polling places in 2020 and to support law enforcement during protests in Kenosha.
Hope Karnopp can be reached at HKarnopp@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Evers mobilizes Wisconsin National Guard for Menasha tornado recovery
Reporting by Hope Karnopp and Duke Behnke, Appleton Post-Crescent / Appleton Post-Crescent
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Hope Karnopp and Duke Behnke, Appleton Post-Crescent | USA TODAY Network
