By Blake Jackson
On May 15, powerful tornadoes swept through western and east-central Wisconsin, prompting loud sirens and quick action from emergency teams. As winds reached nearly 100 miles per hour, staff at Clearview Long Term Care & Rehabilitation moved 100 residents into safe hallways. Just 20 minutes later, windows shattered, and part of the building’s roof was torn away.
According to the National Weather Service, seven tornadoes struck the state that evening, including three EF-2 tornadoes in Dodge County’s Mayville and Juneau. In Juneau, the city's tornado siren was ripped from the ground, but not before warning residents.
Juneau Police Chief Dave Beal, who also leads emergency services, credited the alert system with preventing serious injuries. Although roofs were damaged and trees fell on homes, local firefighters rescued trapped individuals.
The Red Cross of Wisconsin set up a resource hub to offer food, water, and support to affected residents. Volunteers helped 10 families with shelter, health care, and emotional services, and more cases are expected as damage assessments continue.
Repairs are ongoing, especially to Juneau’s electric grid. A substation remains offline, and the city is currently running on backup power. Eight neighboring municipalities came together to restore half of Juneau’s power by midnight.
“They all played a huge part in our response efforts and things went very smoothly in the city of Juneau,” said Beal. Wisconsin typically faces 23 tornadoes each year, mostly between April and August. Officials urge residents to understand the difference between a watch and a warning and take immediate shelter when sirens sound or storms begin.
Mark Thomas of the Red Cross reminded everyone to stay indoors and avoid travel during severe storms. Preparedness, awareness, and community cooperation are key to staying safe during tornado season.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-rasica
Categories: Wisconsin, Weather