About this guide
This guide is part of the Fox Valley Recovery Library, a growing collection of practical publications developed by The Fox Valley Tornado Recovery Hub. It preserves durable recovery guidance while the live Hub handles changing local information.
Use the live Hub for what is changing now For current assistance, temporary operations, verified community needs, active recovery resources, and original-source updates, visit FoxValleyRecovery.org. |
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Start here
Life-threatening emergency: call 911 Call for injuries, fire, trapped or missing people, suspected gas danger, structural collapse, live wires, carbon monoxide symptoms, or another immediate threat to life. |
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Essential needs and disaster aftercare: call 211 Dial 211 or 877-947-2211 for help locating shelter, food, transportation, healthcare, utility assistance, and other community resources. Availability varies by incident and location. |
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How to use this guide
• If the property may be unsafe, begin with Immediate Safety.
• If you are displaced or overwhelmed, use the recovery timeline and first-24-hours checklist.
• Before cleanup, repairs, disposal, or major spending, document damage and contact the insurer when applicable.
• Use Who Handles What? to identify the right starting point for a problem.
• Keep the incident log and receipts together. Recovery decisions are easier when the record is organized.
1. Immediate safety
Leave the home or area immediately when there is:
• Fire, smoke, a natural gas odor, or hissing from a damaged line.
• Sparking, exposed wiring, a burning odor, or water touching electrical equipment.
• A leaning wall, sagging ceiling, shifting roof, partial collapse, or unusual structural noises.
• Downed wires, damaged poles, unstable trees, or debris hanging overhead.
• Floodwater, sewage, chemical spills, or an evacuation order.
• Any condition that makes the structure's safety uncertain.
Suspected natural gas Leave without using switches, appliances, garage-door openers, matches, lighters, or phones inside. Call 911 or the gas utility from a safe location. |
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Downed wires Stay well away. Do not touch the wire or anything it may be energizing, including fences, vehicles, trees, wet ground, and standing water. |
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If you have seconds vs. minutes
| 60-second evacuation | 10-minute controlled departure - only if entry is safe |
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| People and pets; essential medications; phone; identification and wallet; keys; glasses, hearing aids, and critical mobility equipment; sturdy shoes and weather-appropriate clothing. | Prepared go-bags; insurance and contact pouch; charging cables and power banks; carryable water and food; clothing and hygiene supplies; pet carriers, leashes, medications and records; child comfort item; essential work or school items. |
| Priority: life and mobility. | Priority: only what can be gathered without delaying a safe departure. |
Do not go back for things No document, computer, keepsake, medication refill, or pet supply is worth entering a building that responders or visible conditions indicate is unsafe. Tell responders what remains inside. |
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2. Recovery is a process, not a deadline
| When | Priority actions |
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| First hours | Account for every person and pet. Leave immediate hazards. Call 911 for life threats. Use 211 and the live Hub for essential needs and current local assistance. |
| First day | Report utility hazards, notify insurance and the landlord if renting, photograph damage from a safe location, begin an incident log, and save disaster-related receipts. |
| First few days | Confirm safe access, document affected rooms and property, obtain claim instructions, make only safe temporary repairs, and organize housing, medication, transportation, school, work, childcare, and pet needs. |
| First weeks | Review estimates and repair scopes carefully. Verify contractors, permits, insurance responsibilities, debris rules, and available assistance before committing major money. |
| Months into recovery | Keep claim records, receipts, permits, warranties, photographs, and correspondence. Revisit unresolved housing, insurance, contractor, financial, health, and emotional-recovery needs rather than assuming help is no longer available. |
| Before major repairs, disposal, or settlement | Confirm evidence, inspection, permit, and insurance requirements. Understand what you are signing or accepting before a decision becomes difficult to reverse. |
First 24 hours checklist
☐ Confirm every household member and pet is accounted for.
☐ Call 211 for essential needs and current referrals.
☐ Report utility hazards after reaching safety.
☐ Notify the homeowners or renters insurer and obtain a claim number.
☐ Notify the landlord or property manager if renting.
☐ Photograph exterior damage from a safe location before cleanup begins.
☐ Start a written incident log with times, names, instructions, expenses, and claim details.
☐ Save receipts for lodging, food, transportation, supplies, temporary repairs, and replacement necessities.
☐ Arrange medication, medical equipment, pet care, work, school, and childcare needs for the next day.
☐ Do not post publicly that the home is vacant or unsecured.
3. Document damage before you change it
Good documentation protects options. It can support an insurance claim, contractor dispute, assistance application, tax record, or later reconstruction of what happened.
1. Notify the insurer promptly. Ask what emergency repairs are allowed, what evidence is needed, how additional living expenses work, and whether damaged property must be kept for inspection.
2. Photograph and video safely. Capture the exterior from several directions, each affected room when entry is authorized, damaged contents, serial numbers, and temporary protection work.
3. Make a room-by-room list. Record damaged or missing property, approximate age, original cost when known, and replacement information.
4. Prevent additional damage when safe. A tarp, temporary board-up, or water shutoff may be reasonable. Do not attempt dangerous roof, electrical, gas, tree, or structural work.
5. Keep every receipt. Save lodging, meals, transportation, cleanup supplies, pet boarding, temporary repairs, replacement necessities, and other disaster-related expenses.
6. Keep an incident log. Record every call, name, date, instruction, estimate, payment, and document sent.
Before throwing damaged property away When an insurance claim is involved, confirm the adjuster's evidence and inspection requirements first unless health or safety authorities require disposal. Wisconsin OCI specifically advises keeping damaged property until the claim adjuster agrees it may be discarded. |
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Renters
A landlord's policy generally protects the building, not the renter's personal property. Notify both the landlord or property manager and the renters-insurance company. Ask who is responsible for access, temporary repairs, and habitability decisions.
4. Cleanup without creating another emergency
| Hazard | Safer action |
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| Structural damage | Wait for clearance. Leave if the building shifts, creaks, or makes unusual noises. Do not move debris that may be supporting part of the structure. |
| Glass, nails, insulation, and dust | Wear thick-soled boots, long pants, heavy gloves, eye protection, and appropriate respiratory protection. |
| Trees and limbs | Assume limbs may be under tension and overhead branches may fall. Use trained, insured professionals for large trees, lines, roofs, and unstable structures. |
| Electricity | Shut power off only when the panel is safely accessible and there is no standing water. Leave exposed wiring and utility lines to qualified crews. |
| Natural gas | Leave immediately. Do not operate switches or ignition sources. A professional must restore gas service after it has been shut off. |
| Fuel-burning equipment | Use generators outdoors and at least 20 feet from doors, windows, and vents. Keep grills, camp stoves, and other fuel-burning equipment outdoors. Use carbon monoxide alarms. |
| Water and food | Follow local water notices. Discard food when temperature or contamination safety is uncertain. Do not taste food to test it. |
| Mold, sewage, chemicals, or asbestos | Avoid disturbance and use qualified guidance or remediation. Keep children and pets away. |
Carbon monoxide can kill without warning Never run a generator or other fuel-burning engine inside a home, basement, garage, or near openings. CDC guidance places portable generators at least 20 feet from doors, windows, and vents. |
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5. Contractors, repairs, and pressure
Storm damage attracts legitimate help and aggressive operators. A damaged roof or broken window may be urgent. Signing away money or rights usually is not.
☐ Ask trusted local sources, neighbors, and the insurer for referrals.
☐ Require the contractor to inspect the job site rather than quoting major work only by phone or text.
☐ Check identity, physical address, liability insurance, references, complaints, permits, and local requirements.
☐ Get a written contract describing scope, materials, price, payment schedule, start and completion dates, warranties, and cleanup responsibilities.
☐ Ask for lien waivers from contractors you pay for home repairs.
☐ Do not pay the full amount upfront or hand over an insurance check.
☐ Confirm required permits with the local building inspector and, when appropriate, obtain inspection before final payment.
☐ Keep every contract, estimate, receipt, warranty, message, and change order.
Wisconsin storm-repair protections DATCP advises caution with high-pressure and traveling repair crews. Wisconsin law also limits certain contractor conduct involving insurance claims, including promises to pay a property owner's deductible and negotiating an insurance claim on the customer's behalf. |
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Common pressure signals
• "Sign today or lose the price."
• "Your insurer already approved this."
• "You do not need to read that section."
• "Give me the insurance check and we will handle everything."
• An unusually low estimate with vague scope or materials.
• Refusal to provide insurance, permit, address, or written-contract information.
6. Who handles what?
Your street address controls the jurisdiction The correct municipality, county, building inspector, public works department, and utility can differ across the Fox Valley. Do not assume an Appleton or Outagamie County office handles property in Menasha, Fox Crossing, Neenah, or another municipality. |
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| Need | Start here |
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| Immediate threat to life or public safety | 911 |
| Shelter, food, transportation, healthcare, essential needs, disaster aftercare | Wisconsin 211: dial 211 or 877-947-2211 |
| Electric outage, downed service line, or gas concern | The utility that serves the property; leave a gas-leak area before calling |
| Unsafe building, access, permits, debris rules, or local property questions | The municipality or county office responsible for the property address |
| Insurance claim and additional living expenses | Homeowners or renters insurer; obtain a claim number and written instructions |
| Rental access or habitability | Landlord/property manager and renters insurer |
| Unresolved insurance issue | Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance |
| Contractor complaint, pressure tactics, or suspected scam | Wisconsin DATCP Consumer Protection |
Useful Wisconsin contacts
• Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI): 800-236-8517.
• Wisconsin DATCP Consumer Protection Hotline: 800-422-7128.
• American Red Cross Wisconsin disaster assistance: 800-236-8680.
7. The long recovery
Recovery rarely ends when debris is removed. Insurance, repairs, displacement, finances, health, school, work, and emotional recovery can continue for months or longer.
Keep the record alive
Keep claim documents, photographs, estimates, contracts, permits, receipts, warranties, and important messages together until the recovery is genuinely complete. A question that appears settled can reopen when hidden damage, supplemental work, or a billing dispute emerges.
Recheck unresolved needs
A household may move from emergency shelter to temporary housing, from cleanup to rebuilding, or from an initial claim to supplemental documentation. Return to the live Hub and established agencies when circumstances change. Do not assume a resource is no longer relevant simply because the first days have passed.
Watch the financial tail
Track deductibles, temporary living costs, repair payments, financing, grants, reimbursements, donated services, and out-of-pocket expenses. Before borrowing, signing a settlement, or committing to major work, understand what other responsible parties or assistance sources may apply.
Recovery includes people, not only property
Sleep disruption, irritability, grief, anxiety, concentration problems, exhaustion, and delayed emotional reactions can surface well after the immediate emergency. Seek appropriate support when distress persists, interferes with daily life, or becomes difficult to manage.
When the next decision feels urgent
Return to the same basic sequence: make it safe, document what happened, identify who is responsible, verify current information, understand the decision, and then act. Recovery pressure can last much longer than the visible damage.
8. What not to do
☐ Do not enter a visibly unstable or officially restricted building.
☐ Do not touch downed wires, damaged utility equipment, or anything a wire may be energizing.
☐ Do not climb onto damaged roofs or move structural debris.
☐ Do not begin major cleanup before documenting damage when it is safe to do so.
☐ Do not throw damaged property away before checking claim requirements unless health or safety authorities require disposal.
☐ Do not use generators, grills, camp stoves, or fuel-burning heaters indoors, in garages, or near openings.
☐ Do not drive into damaged neighborhoods to sightsee or offer uncoordinated help.
☐ Do not travel to a shelter, donation site, volunteer site, or pickup point without confirming it is still operating.
☐ Do not spread unverified shelter addresses, casualty claims, road closures, donation requests, or rumors.
☐ Do not self-deploy into restricted areas as a volunteer.
☐ Do not bring random donations unless a current need and receiving location have been published.
☐ Do not sign repair contracts under pressure, pay in full upfront, or hand over an insurance check.
☐ Do not share identification, claim numbers, policy details, bank information, or one-time passcodes with unsolicited callers.
☐ Do not assume FEMA or another federal program is available for this tornado unless an official source announces eligibility.
☐ Do not make major financial decisions while exhausted, frightened, or under immediate sales pressure.
9. How neighbors can help
| Helpful | Not helpful |
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| Check on nearby older adults, disabled residents, families with children, and people without transportation - without entering hazardous areas. | Driving into the damage zone to look around or record video. |
| Offer specific help: charging, a meal, laundry, pet care, transportation, child care, a shower, or a place to sleep. | Posting vague offers that require a displaced person to organize the response. |
| Share original-source links with a visible date and correct outdated posts. | Forwarding screenshots with no date, source, or verification. |
| Donate money or currently requested items through established organizations. | Dropping unsorted goods at an unconfirmed location. |
| Volunteer through an organization that provides assignment, safety briefing, and accountability. | Showing up with chainsaws, tools, or vehicles and entering private or restricted property. |
| Leave roads and curb space clear for responders, utility crews, and residents. | Parking near damaged properties or blocking debris routes. |
Use coordinated channels The Hub's current help guidance emphasizes specific, safe assistance connected to a real need. Check current volunteer and donation instructions before deploying or delivering goods. |
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10. Recovery record
Keep this page with your claim number, receipts, estimates, and important instructions.
| Plan item | Household answer |
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| Insurance company / claim number | ________________________________________ |
| Adjuster / contact | ________________________________________ |
| Temporary lodging | ________________________________________ |
| Utility reports / confirmation numbers | ________________________________________ |
| Landlord / property manager | ________________________________________ |
| Municipality / building inspector | ________________________________________ |
| Contractor estimates | ________________________________________ |
| Receipts stored at | ________________________________________ |
| Important instructions received | ________________________________________ |
| Next follow-up date | ________________________________________ |
Call and expense notes
| Date / time | Who / organization | Instruction, confirmation number, or expense |
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Sources and current information
This edition preserves the original guide's incident-specific identity while rebuilding it as a durable recovery resource. Temporary service details and time-sensitive program notices belong on the live Hub; this guide focuses on decisions and practices that remain useful throughout recovery. Key safety and consumer guidance was rechecked against authoritative Wisconsin and federal sources on August 8, 2026.
The Fox Valley Tornado Recovery Hub - Current Recovery Information
The Fox Valley Tornado Recovery Hub - Recovery Library
Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance - July 28, 2026 storm-damage guidance
Wisconsin OCI - Settling Property Insurance Claims
Wisconsin DATCP - Storm Damage Repair Contractor Guidance
CDC - Safety Guidelines: After a Tornado
Important limitation This community guide does not replace instructions from emergency responders, utilities, building officials, public health, insurers, or other responsible authorities. When current official information conflicts with this guide, follow the current official information. |
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Stay connected to current recovery information
| Scan to visit FoxValleyRecovery.org Current Recovery Information • Resource Directory • Recovery Map • Community Board • Partner Board • Fox Valley Recovery Library |
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