Assume any fallen line is energized, even if it is not sparking, humming or moving.
Stay at least 35 feet away and keep children and pets back.
Never drive over a downed line, and never try to move one with a stick, rope or anything else.
If a line falls on your car while you are inside, stay in the car and call 911. Only get out if it catches fire — and if you must, jump clear with both feet together, never touching car and ground at once, then shuffle away.
Treat every intersection with a dark traffic signal as a four-way stop.
Report downed lines to We Energies at 800-662-4797, or 911 if someone is in immediate danger.
Full guidance · Grand Chute Police Department · updated Jul 27, 4:00 PM
Burn ban still on in Neenah & Menasha — lifted in Fox Crossing Neenah · Menasha
No outdoor burning, including debris and brush, in Neenah or Menasha. Fox Crossing rescinded its burn ban on 18 August.
Do not burn storm debris, brush or yard waste outdoors in Neenah or the City of Menasha.
Fox Crossing has rescinded its burn ban as of Monday 18 August. Normal burning rules apply there again — check the Village's own permit requirements before lighting anything.
This applies even to small or contained fires — the ban does not distinguish by size.
Take debris to a municipal drop-off site or curbside pickup instead — see the Cleanup & Debris Removal section for your community's process.
Neenah and Menasha will announce publicly when their bans lift; no personal notice will be sent.
Full guidance · Village of Fox Crossing (ban rescinded 18 August); Neenah and Menasha not confirmed either way · updated Aug 20, 10:30 AM
The overnight curfew appears to be over Menasha · Fox Crossing
Fox Crossing lifted its curfew on 18 August. Winnebago County has since removed every mention of a curfew from its tornado pages. Menasha has not published a formal end, but nothing current says one is still in force.
Fox Crossing: lifted. Ended Monday 18 August by declaration of the Village Administrator. Ordinary trespassing and loitering rules still apply.
Menasha: no longer posted anywhere. The county has dropped it and Menasha's own storm page has not been updated since 31 July. We are no longer telling you there is a curfew here.
If you need certainty — because you work nights, or you are worried about being stopped — ring Menasha Police on 920-967-3500 and ask. It is a fair question.
The streets are still not safe to wander after dark. Streetlights are out in the damaged blocks and downed conductors are invisible at night. That was always the real reason to stay in, and it has not changed.
If you are displaced and have nowhere to be tonight, overnight sheltering is still listed at Appleton North High School, 5000 N Ballard Rd, Appleton.
Full guidance · Village of Fox Crossing (lifted 18 August); Winnebago County tornado pages (no curfew listed as of 20 August) · updated Aug 20, 10:30 AM
Next few days
Pets & Animals
Lost and found pets, emergency veterinary care, pet food, and boarding for animals whose owners are sheltering.
6 places to go or call ·6 open now·2 you can call·2 things to know ·
Places to go & people to call
Cozy Country Pet Care — free boarding for cats, small animals, birds and reptiles
Open
Free boarding for cats, small animals, reptiles and birds with cages — not dogs — for anyone affected by the storm.
Cozy Country Pet Care is offering free boarding for cats, small animals, reptiles and birds with cages for anyone affected by the storm. They cannot take dogs.
Text first to arrange help — do not show up without contacting them.
Located in Black Creek, about 20 minutes northwest of Appleton. They also offer home visits.
Fox Valley Humane Association — temporary pet boarding
Open
Free supplies and temporary boarding for pets while their owners deal with storm damage. Dogs boarded on-site; cats and other animals matched with fosters.
Fox Valley Humane Association has pet food, litter, blankets, dog beds and bowls available for anyone affected by the storm.
Need temporary housing for a pet? Dogs can be boarded on-site now. They are working to place cats and other animals with foster homes, since their shelter is currently at capacity for cats.
Call ahead at 920-733-1717 to arrange boarding or ask what is available.
Also available, per the county's pet support page
Crates and beds as well as food and litter
Temporary foster care and emergency shelter for pets while you repair or return to your home
K&R Small Animal Rescue helps with rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs and other small pets affected by the storm — whether you were displaced, lost a pet, found one, or need supplies while your home is being repaired.
Reach out through their website to ask about food, bedding, carriers, temporary care or other small-animal needs.
Neenah Animal Shelter — pet essentials
Open
Free collars, leashes, beds, food and bowls for pets affected by the storm.
Free
The Ruff House and First Choice Grooming — grooming and boarding help
Open
Two local businesses on the county's storm list for pet grooming and boarding. Ring first — what each is offering after the storm is arranged by phone.
More detail
Both of these are on Winnebago County's list of pet help after the tornado. Neither publishes storm-specific terms, so ring and say you were affected by the tornado — that is how the arrangement gets made.
The Ruff House — 900 Declaration Drive, Fox Crossing · 920-720-2772
First Choice Grooming, Greenville — W6387 County Rd JJ, Appleton · 920-757-6402
Why this is worth a call
A dog that has been through a tornado and then lived in a half-cleared house or a hotel room for three weeks is often in poor shape — matted, full of dust and insulation, sometimes with cuts under the coat that nobody has spotted. Getting that dealt with is not a luxury, and it is frequently the thing people put off longest because it feels like one.
Boarding also buys you a day. If you are meeting an adjuster, clearing a house, or moving into somewhere temporary, having the dog somewhere else for a few hours makes all of it easier and safer.
If you need longer-term or emergency fostering, see the Fox Valley Humane Association entry — they can board dogs on site and are working on fosters for cats.
If you need pet food, bowls, bedding or a collar, those are free from the Neenah Animal Shelter and Unforgettable Underdog Dog Rescue — see their entries.
Unforgettable Underdog Dog Rescue — free dog supplies
Open
Free dog food, treats and water for anyone affected by the storm.
