MADISON, Wis. — Rescue crews continued search and recovery operations in parts of western Wisconsin on Thursday after authorities confirmed that a tornado touched down during a powerful storm system that swept across the state, damaging homes, businesses and critical infrastructure.
Local emergency management officials said first responders, including firefighters, sheriff's deputies and utility crews, were conducting door-to-door searches in the hardest-hit areas while assessing structural damage and clearing blocked roads. Officials urged residents to avoid damaged neighborhoods to allow emergency vehicles access.
The National Weather Service confirmed that a tornado occurred during the outbreak of severe weather, while additional storm surveys were underway to determine the number, intensity and paths of any other tornadoes associated with the system. Officials said damage assessments would continue as conditions allowed.
Wisconsin Emergency Management said it was coordinating with county and municipal agencies to evaluate the extent of the destruction and identify communities requiring additional resources. State officials said utility companies were also working to restore electricity to customers affected by widespread outages caused by downed power lines and fallen trees.
Authorities had not released a complete assessment of casualties or injuries, and officials cautioned that information could change as rescue teams reached damaged properties. Emergency managers said search operations remained a priority while engineers inspected buildings for safety before allowing residents to return.
Governor Tony Evers previously declared a state of emergency in response to severe weather affecting Wisconsin, enabling state agencies and emergency management officials to coordinate response and recovery efforts more quickly. Wisconsin Emergency Management said personnel from multiple state agencies had been deployed to support local governments as needed.
The National Weather Service warned that severe thunderstorms can produce destructive winds, large hail and tornadoes with little advance notice, urging residents in affected areas to continue monitoring official forecasts and heed any additional warnings. Wisconsin averages about two dozen tornadoes each year, with the highest risk typically occurring between April and August.
Emergency officials said damage assessments and recovery operations would continue over the coming days as crews worked to restore essential services and document storm impacts. The National Weather Service said additional survey findings, including any updated tornado ratings, would be released after field teams completed their inspections.
