Gov. Evers Declares State Of Emergency After Severe Weather

ACROSS WISCONSIN — Gov. Tony Evers on Thursday declared a state of emergency and signed an executive order directing state agencies and the Wisconsin National Guard to help with recovery efforts after severe storms Wednesday night.

Executive Order 128 authorized Wisconsin National Guard to be called to active duty, as the adjutant general deems necessary, to provide assistance supporting local authorities with their recovery efforts, Evers said in a statement.

The state of emergency declares that emergency management and services will prioritize the current emergency over other contracts, according to state law. Emergency management can take whatever materials and facilities are needed, including private property, for emergency management purposes, it added.

“Last night's storms affected communities from the Mississippi River to Lake Michigan, leaving many regions with widespread damage,” Evers said. “Wisconsinites are resilient, and I know first responders, utilities, and many across our state are working to respond today. I'm declaring a State of Emergency this morning to ensure state resources are available as we work together to get communities the support and help they need.”

The storms started after 9 p.m. Wednesday, rolling in from the northwest and causing high winds and heavy rainfall, according to the National Weather Service. At 1 a.m., people in Milwaukee County were notified of a tornado warning that lasted until 2 a.m., the weather service added.

Meteorologist Denny VanCleve in Sullivan said there’s a good chance a tornado, or possibly two, caused widespread damage, The Associated Press reported.

Utility crews worked to restore service to thousands of customers who lost power across the state. About 90,000 customers in the state lost electricity, according to the tracking website PowerOutage.US, AP reported.

Crews from the National Weather Service were assessing damage in Jefferson and Waukesha counties Thursday morning, TMJ4 reported. Fallen trees blocked roads in Concord, Watertown and Ripon, TMJ4 reported.