Severe thunderstorms moved through west central and east central Wisconsin this morning, knocking down trees and power lines in several counties. Winds of 60-80 miles per hour were reported throughout much of the state.
More than 65,000 customers are without power statewide. In the Fox Valley alone, as many as 40,000 customers are estimated to be without power at this time.
Many county emergency management directors are assessing local damages.
Adams County:
Straight line winds led to scattered tree limbs and downed power lines in the county. The public safety building is running on generator power and residents in several communities are without power. No reports of injuries and no reports of damage to businesses.
Brown County:
Reports of trees and power lines down.
Calumet County:
Reports across the county of trees across roads and on power lines. Several trees landed campers at the Chilton Fairgrounds and County Park.
No injuries or damaged structures reported so far.
Kewaunee County:
Wind damage is mainly in the northern end of the county. Reports of trees and power lines down. The City of Kewaunee is out of power at this time.
La Crosse County:
The storm struck the City of La Crosse and the neighboring communities of Shelby and Campbell Townships, the Village of West Salem and the City of Onalaska this morning at approximately 7:15. No injuries were reported.
The County 9-1-1 Dispatch Center received nearly 75 telephone calls during a 45-minute period this morning from citizens reporting trees damaged or knocked down onto power lines. Electric power has been restored in many areas, but several power poles and sections of electric power lines must be replaced or repaired before all electric power can be restored.
Several major traffic routes were blocked by trees and other debris during the morning commute, but nearly all have been cleared. A section of Drive-Inn Road near State Road 33 remains closed while crews repair downed power lines and broken power poles. Minor localized street flooding occurred during the brief heavy rains.
Manitowoc County:
Reports of trees and power lines down. A report has also been received that a semi-truck toppled over on I-43.
Outagamie County:
The county has opened its emergency operations center (EOC). WEM’s East Central Region Director is travelling to the county to assist as needed.
Alliant Energy has lost a major transmission line to the Appleton area, and it may be days before it can be repaired. Numerous trees and power lines down and many streets are blocked.
Trempealeau County:
All lanes of WIS 35 were closed for four hours due to a downed tree blocking the road, but all lanes have reopened.
Vernon County:
Approximately 2,500 people are without power. A communications tower may have been struck by lightning, but communications in the county are adequate at this time.
Waupaca County:
Trees and power lines down. Some roads were blocked due to downed trees.
Waushara County:
The County’s EOC has been set up at the Sheriff's Department. The west end of the county is reporting mostly trees and power lines. There are reports of damages to homes in the Wautoma area around Silver Lake; officers are assessing the damage.
The east end of the county is reporting mostly minor structure damage. A broken gas main in the Saxeville area has led to the evacuation of a residence.
A Red Cross shelter has been setup in the Demo Room at the courthouse for people who are oxygen dependent and not in need of medical transport.
Winnebago County:
Trees and power lines are down in the northern portion the county, with the Neenah/Menasha area hit the hardest. Damage assessments continue.
There are no additional requests for any assistance from the affected areas at this time.
Power outages as of 12:30 p.m.
Alliant Energy (County, # residents without power):
Alliant’s “north central” zone:
Adams, 938
Juneau, 4787
Monroe, 422
Wood, 168
Alliant’s “northeast” zone:
Fond Du Lac, 45
Green Lake, 1859
Marquette, 937
Portage, 363
Waupaca, 311
Waushara, 6132
Winnebago, 2966
Alliant’s “south” zone:
Vernon, 257
Counties with 1-20 customers without power: Dane, Green, Rock, Sauk
WE Energies (County, # residents without power):
Calumet, 2521
Outagamie, 22601 (City of Appleton has 16,086 without power)
Waupaca, 4005
Waushara, 760
Winnebago, 7316
Counties with 1-20 customers without power: Fond du Lac, Manitowoc, Oconto, Ozaukee, Racine, Shawano, Sheboygan, Washington, Waukesha
Wisconsin Public Service (City/County, # residents without power):
Chilton, 1130
Door County, 323
Green Bay, 8482
Kewaunee, 99
Manitowoc County, 2312
Oshkosh, 2584
Stevens Point, 256
Waupaca, 1927
Cities/Counties with 1-20 customers without power: Rhinelander, Wausaukee
