Overview
- The EF3 tornado that struck on July 27 was rated by the National Weather Service at about 140 mph and carved a roughly 12-mile path through Appleton, Menasha and surrounding areas, damaging homes and infrastructure but causing no reported deaths.
- Officials announced a shift from emergency response to long-term recovery with crews beginning targeted collection of building-material debris and heavy equipment entering hard-hit neighborhoods to clear streets and restore access.
- Volunteer operations are being narrowed to specialized assignments and the centralized volunteer reception and resource site at the former UW‑Oshkosh Fox Cities campus is closing as supplies are moved closer to the hardest-hit areas.
- Utilities and public-safety steps are advancing: Menasha Utilities reports roughly 90 percent of power restored, the Fox Crossing boil-water advisory has been lifted, and nightly curfews and a burn ban remain in effect while the National Guard assists with logistics and traffic control.
- Community groups continue large-scale relief with Volunteer Fox Cities processing thousands of volunteers and Mercy Chefs serving thousands of meals; officials urge monetary donations to vetted funds and note curbside debris pickup excludes whole-structure demolition and hazardous materials, which require county disposal programs.