The Wisconsin Army National Guard concluded more than two weeks of state activation supporting storm recovery efforts in Winnebago County on Aug. 15.
Soldiers were activated on July 30 following Gov. Tony Evers' emergency declaration in response to severe storm damage in and around Menasha and Appleton. A confirmed EF3 tornado, high winds, and hail resulted in widespread infrastructure damage, significant power outages, and public water system disruptions.
Over the 16-day activation, 85 soldiers from multiple Wisconsin National Guard units facilitated street closures for utility repair work, managed vehicle access to severely damaged residential neighborhoods, and oversaw natural debris collection sites.
"The tornado's extensive impacts made traffic control extremely challenging," said Winnebago County Emergency Management Director Eric Rasmussen. "Having the National Guard here allowed us to keep residents, volunteers, responders and contracted cleanup crews safe without overloading local law enforcement. Their support made traffic management far more effective, helping cleanup operations move faster and our community move forward with recovery."
Soldiers with the 1157th Transportation Company in Oshkosh were the first assigned to assist under Task Force Sturgeon. Chief Warrant Officer 3 Joshua Baranczyk, the task force officer-in-charge during the second week, said the operation exemplified the citizen soldier concept. "Some of the soldiers on mission lived in the very community we were serving," Baranczyk said. "That brings a special aspect of appreciation for the mission."