RINGLE, Wis. (WSAW) – Seventy-five homes have been damaged following a tornado that caused catastrophic damage late Friday afternoon in Ringle.
Ringle Fire Chief Chris Kielman said they originally responded to the area of River Road around 5 p.m. Friday for search and rescue following news a tornado had touched down near Ringle. He says some people were trapped in their basements, but no one was injured and no one has died.
He said the destruction occurred in a subdivision in a highly residential area. Nearby Riverside Elementary also suffered minor damage.
Displaced residents were being taken to the D.C. Everest Middle School.
Kielman said they have double-checked each affected property to make sure no one is inside. He said several homes have been demolished.
He said a MABAS box alarm was issued to receive assistance in the search and rescue efforts from neighboring departments. He said everyone has been evacuated and the portion of the neighborhood will be shut down for safety.
He said Saturday crews will return to the area to see who will be allowed back home.
Marathon County Sheriff Chad Billeb said he had never seen devastation like this in his 34 years in law enforcement.
“A lot of people are going to need a lot of help,” said Billeb during a press conference Friday night.
He said the county is in the process of working with a philanthropic foundation to establish a benefit fund for those affected.
He said the tornado started in Kronenwetter and carved a path north to Ringle. He said there was also damage off of County Highway O in Stettin from the storms.
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