EF3 Tornado Ravages Wisconsin Fox Cities, Prompting State of Emergency

An EF3 tornado ripped through Wisconsin’s Fox Cities region on July 27, carving a 12‑mile path with peak winds near 140 mph and a width of about 1,500 yards. The storm damaged homes, businesses and public infrastructure in Appleton, Menasha, Neenah, Fox Crossing, Grand Chute and surrounding areas. No deaths were reported, but 68 people received treatment for injuries.

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers signed Executive Order #300, declaring a state of emergency for Outagamie, Winnebago, Forest and Vilas counties and activating the Wisconsin National Guard to assist with recovery and security. Local officials, including Menasha Mayor Austin Hammond and Neenah officials, also declared local emergencies and imposed a curfew. A boil‑water advisory remains in effect for the Village of Fox Crossing and City of Menasha after water‑system pressure loss, prompting residents to boil drinking water. Power was restored to roughly 12,000 customers, and emergency crews continue debris removal and infrastructure repair.