Tornado damage in Menasha, July 28, 2026. PC: Fox 11 Online
MENASHA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Winnebago County authorities say its tornado cleanup effort faces another obstacle Thursday — the heat.
Temperatures will rise to 88 degrees with humid conditions. This has health officials concerned for those outside working to clear debris.
They recommend drinking plenty of water and take breaks frequently to prevent overheating.
The following locations are open as cooling and/or electronics charging stations:
- Former UWO Fox Cities campus
- Christ the Rock Community Church, W6254 US Highway 10-114, Harrison
- Elisha D. Smith Public Library, 440 First St., Menasha
- Neenah-Menasha Elks Lodge
- Downtown Neenah YMCA, 110 W. North Water St., Neenah
- Neenah Public Library, 240 E. Wisconsin Ave.
- Calvary Bible Church, 1450 Oakridge Rd., Neenah
Utility companies continue their mission to fully restore power.
Roads were closed to all vehicle traffic on Doty Island east of Naymut Street and north of Nicolet Boulevard Thursday for tornado damage cleanup. Law enforcement is in the area, and vehicles will not be allowed to enter or leave the restricted area at this time.
Police are asking the public to abide by all road closures so cleanup work can continue as smoothly and quickly as possible.
They are also reminding residents there is a burn ban. Police had reports of people burning debris and other household materials. For the safety of the community, you should not burn these items, call 211 to report your pickup needs.
Winnebago County executive says they did send a request for the National Guard to assist. He says they waited to send the request until they could find the greatest needs for clearly identified missions. Moving forward, the National Guard will help out with debris management, logistics and traffic control. Hinz did not say how many troops would be deployed or when they would start helping.
Menasha mayor Austin Hammond says more than 1,000 volunteers showed up Wednesday at the former University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Fox Cities campus.
Volunteers are always welcome to check in there to see where they can help. Monetary donations can be made through United Way Fox Cities.
The Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Green Bay is on the ground in Menasha, working with other responding agencies to provide assistance to individuals and families impacted by the recent storm. Operating from its Menasha office at 1475 Opportunity Way, the Catholic Charities team is connecting those affected with short-term housing options and financial resources to help meet their immediate needs.
Thanks to a grant from Catholic Charities USA Disaster Response Fund, Catholic Charities is able to provide emergency financial assistance to eligible households. Through its partnership with the Airbnb Foundation, Catholic Charities can also offer short-term housing vouchers for stays of up to 10 days, helping displaced individuals and families secure safe temporary accommodations while they begin the recovery process.
Those in immediate need of short-term housing or financial assistance may visit the Catholic Charities office in Menasha, or call 920-272-8234 or email charitiesgb@gbdioc.org.
As of Thursday morning, 90% of power has been restored to the downtown area.
At this point, officials say it is still too early to know exactly how many structures were damaged from the tornado. Storm assessment teams are still out in the community and they will be coming up with an accurate number.
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