Tornado Recovery Updates

In the first days after the tornado, our role was to support the organizations already leading the immediate response; not to duplicate their work. Disaster cleanup is not traditionally Habitat’s core focus, but we knew we had people, equipment, construction knowledge, and volunteer-management experience that could help. So we stepped in alongside Volunteer Fox Cities, United Way Fox Cities, municipalities, and other partners to help stabilize homes, support cleanup efforts, and begin identifying the housing needs that would remain after the immediate emergency had passed.

Now, as that initial response begins to wind down, Habitat is stepping into a larger role to help fill a gap in our community. We are working to connect residents who still need help with the volunteers, skills, equipment, and other resources available across the Fox Cities. That includes removing debris, stabilizing a property, and helping families understand what comes next. This is still different from our traditional work, and we are being intentional about staying in our lane and complementing the work of other organizations. The scale of the need means our community needs additional support right now.

Ultimately, the long-term recovery is where Fox Cities Habitat can bring its greatest strengths to bear. Once the debris is gone and the immediate crisis fades from view, hundreds of families will still be dealing with damaged homes, insurance gaps, difficult repair decisions, and work they simply cannot afford to complete on their own. Over the coming months and years, we intend to use the same construction expertise, volunteer network, community partnerships, and home repair experience we have built over decades to help families restore safe, stable housing. We are committed to our community and the recovery efforts for as long as it takes.

Please stay tuned and come back to this page. We will continue to share updates and opportunities for support over the coming weeks/months. Together, we will rebuild.

How to support tornado recovery efforts

Please consider how you might partner with us in this recovery effort. The needs are significant, but we’ve identified key areas where our partners can make the greatest impact:

1. Financial Support: The greatest need will be funding to help cover the significant cost of repairing homes and restoring neighborhoods. For a quick one-time donation, please use the donation form at the top of this page. For more information on ways to give, please contact Amy McGowan at 920-378-8613 or amym@foxcitieshabitat.org.

2. Volunteer Support: We will need volunteer teams to assist with immediate cleanup efforts as well as hands-on repair projects in the months ahead. If you are interested, please fill out the form at the top of this page.

3. Skilled Trades and Specialized Resources: Skilled tradespeople, specialty equipment, materials, and other professional expertise will play an important role as recovery efforts progress.