An EF-2 tornado swept through Menasha and south of Appleton, destroying homes and businesses, with downed trees and power lines being scattered across the city, leaving locals with no access to electricity and water.

“My roof completely blew off, there is nothing left to it,” Kelli Tervola, born and raised in Menasha, who spent 38 years living in her house that was destroyed by a tornado on Monday, said. “[A] 50-foot maple tree fell and landed onto the yard, not onto the house. … When I saw that it was very surreal, that we all could have been trapped in that house in the basement, and we could have died.”

Menasha Mayor Austin Hammond declared a local state of disaster, stating in the press release that the city is closed.

Menasha Police Department (MPD) has issued a “city-wide” curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., effective Monday, July 27, applying to any person except those whose employment makes it necessary to be upon the streets, alleys or in any motor vehicle during those hours.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said that he was briefed on the storms and that the state is ready to assist communities “however we can.”

An emergency shelter is open for impacted residents at Christ the Rock Community Church, located at W6254 U.S. Highway 10 in Menasha. Menasha Piggly Wiggly is offering free bottled water on Tuesday at 9 a.m., while supplies last.

Matthew Cappucci, senior meteorologist at MyRadar Weather Radar, wrote on Facebook that the tornado formed between 11:55 and 11:58 a.m., causing EF1 to EF2 damage in south of Appleton and “likely reaching” EF3 strength as it passed through Menasha.

Tervola and other Menasha citizens said they received notifications through their phones that alerted them first about the “severe thunderstorm,” which quickly turned into a “tornado warning.”

“The phones alerted us,” she said. “We got into the basement … within like two minutes of this all happening. So we were really lucky that we got down there in time.”

Thomas Siegel is the fourth-generation owner of Tony’s Bar that began operation in 1921 on the corner of Third Street and Manitowoc Street in Menasha. His business was also damaged due to a tornado.

Siegel said he was in his bar, watching the news, when the tornado swept through the city, damaging the windows and roof of his building while water dripped from the ceiling.

“I watched it [tornado] live,” he said. “[The newscaster] said ‘if you are in Menasha, you better be going downstairs and seeking shelter.’ And soon, about two minutes [newscaster] said that, it [tornado] hit.”

As Siegel is still assessing the sustained damage of his bar, he is uncertain whether it is feasible to reopen the place again, as he is looking forward to the retirement.

According to Menasha Utilities, the entire city of Menasha, west of Oneida Street is without electricity as of 3 p.m.

MPD ordered residents of Village of Fox Crossing, east of the Fox River, and Menasha residents served by Village of Fox Crossing Utilities to bring tap water to a full rolling boil for one minute before consuming it due to a possible contamination in the water system.

Kimmy Duenas also lives in Menasha but further off Third Street where the tornado left the most damage. She said the moment the tornado ended, her family came out of their basement and went to help their neighbor.

“I think we’re going to make sure that everybody in the neighborhood is good,” she said. “We’re gonna go to Clovis Avenue, which is the elementary school where my daughter went. We’re going to help them clean up as part of the community.”

Tervola said the Menasha community is stepping up to help the affected residents.

“The community has been amazing, people walking around just trying to help,” she said. “My boyfriend was so kind as to go out and help the neighbor [who] was trapped in the basement. Their house is completely gone. … He made sure all the other neighbors were okay [and] helped another elderly woman. Literally gave them the shoes that he had on his feet and his sweatshirt and made sure she was safe.”