Helping Wisconsin After Devastating Tornado

July 28, 2026 • United States
Aerial view of orange-shirted volunteers circling to pray, surrounded by disaster relief vehicles
U.S. Disaster Relief staff and volunteers gather to pray at Alliance Church in Appleton before going out to serve homeowners devastated by the recent twister.

Samaritan’s Purse is responding to Appleton, Wisconsin, following a destructive twister. Volunteer teams are working to help hurting families recover.

A powerful tornado tore through Appleton, Wisconsin, and the surrounding communities of Menasha and Neenah, on Monday afternoon, July 27. The EF3 twister spun through residential neighborhoods for at least 20 minutes, tearing apart homes, uprooting trees, and leaving thousands of families without power before it dissipated over Lake Winnebago.

Less than 24 hours after the tornado, Samaritan’s Purse deployed to the devastated region to bring help and hope in Jesus’ Name.

VOLUNTEER IN WISCONSIN

“We thank God that there have been no reported deaths from the storm, but it damaged many homes and businesses in the community,” said Samaritan’s Purse President Franklin Graham on Facebook. “Pray for these hurting families.”

Disaster Relief Unit #3—a tractor-trailer full of relief supplies and equipment—arrived in the Badger State on Wednesday, July 29. Our host church for this response is Alliance Church of Appleton at 2693 Grand Chute Boulevard, which also served as our base of operations earlier this year in response to tornadoes in the nearby town of New London.

Volunteers are now serving in the community as the hands and feet of Jesus. The teams help reeling homeowners recover personal items, clean up strewn debris, cut fallen trees, and tarp damaged roofs.

Chaplains from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Rapid Response Team join our volunteer teams to provide spiritual encouragement and share the eternal hope of the Gospel.

Pray for the families whose lives were torn apart by this sudden twister. Pray that they will experience God’s love and peace as our volunteers serve them in His Name.

SUPPORT
U.S. Disaster Relief & Rebuild A gift to U.S. Disaster Relief & Rebuild equips us to respond to natural disasters across our nation. Samaritan's Purse mobilizes and equips thousands of volunteers to provide emergency relief to survivors of floods, tornadoes, wildfires, and hurricanes. Wherever we go, we bring comfort and the hope of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In the aftermath of major storms, we often stay behind to rebuild houses for people with nowhere else to turn for help.

U.S. Disaster Relief & Rebuild 013622
$

More