Jul 28, 2026, 12:11 PM CT
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MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today signed Executive Order #300, declaring a state of emergency as communities throughout Eastern Wisconsin experienced severe storms on Monday, July 27, that resulted in at least one confirmed tornado with preliminary surveys indicating EF3 damage in the Menasha/Appleton area, along with high winds, hail, power outages, and disruptions to public water systems, causing widespread and significant damage.
“We are continuing to assess the devastation and destruction Wisconsin is seeing, especially in the Fox Cities, and we are committed to doing everything we can to help every family, business, and community affected recover,” said Gov. Evers. “This emergency declaration will ensure every available resource is deployed so we can respond quickly to the needs on the ground, and I want to thank the neighbors, emergency and first responders, local partners, and volunteers who are already working to help to restore essential services, clean up neighborhoods, and assess the damages. Together, we will recover and recover stronger, and I ask everyone to keep the families and communities affected in your thoughts over the coming days and weeks as they rebuild.”
Currently, multiple fire services, law enforcement, public works, utilities, volunteer organizations, and other emergency response agencies have deployed to assist the public and recovery operations in the affected areas. The State Emergency Operations Center was elevated to a Level 3 on Monday, and Gov. Evers’ declaration of a state of emergency will help ensure state agencies, local partners, utilities, and emergency management officials can continue working together and respond quickly to damage and effects caused by the severe weather.
Wisconsin Emergency Management, a division of the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs, has been working with counties to assess damage and determine resources needed to speed recovery efforts.
Executive Order #300 is available on Gov. Evers’ website and is effective immediately.
Adam Hess has been involved in radio broadcasting since 1990, with many of those years spent on the air at WRCO FM in Richland Center. Currently, Adam hosts the Weekend Wake-up and Prime Mover Saturdays on WRCO FM, jumps in and helps out with news duties, handles Social Media duties for WRCO and WRCE, and is the Director of Technology at a Southwest Wisconsin School District. Reach him at adam.hess@civicmedia.us.
