Neighbors helping neighbors: Cleanup underway after severe storm leaves damage in Kenosha

KENOSHA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Cleanup is underway after a powerful storm tore through Kenosha late Thursday, April 2, knocking down trees and cutting power for many residents.

People have been out all day raking up branches and debris and helping neighbors out. Residents say the storm came and went in what felt like an instant, leaving them to clean up the mess.

“This was — I don’t know what this was. It was terrible,” said Dale Lee, a Kenosha resident.

If you measure storms by damage, the streets in Kenosha speak for themselves.

“Yeah, it was pretty bad,” said Daniel Balk Sr., a Kenosha resident.

For Balk, it happened in a flash.

“We were going to the kitchen, got really loud, just about to go downstairs, and the lights all went out,” he said.

The storm took a part of Balk’s yard with it.

“Took a look out the kitchen window…I can’t see my trees, oh man!” he said.

Trees that were planted in the 1950s were gone in an instant.

“It’s gotta go too, unfortunately. So, clean sweep,” Balk said.

Across the street, summertime at Lee’s home will look a little different.

“That’s my picnic table,” Lee said.

Despite the damage, Lee and Balk say severe weather can’t blow away their sense of humor.

“Easter Bunny ain’t coming around here, I’ll tell you that,” Balk said.

Lee said it’s part of the cleanup process.

“It doesn’t happen all the time and it’s exciting in a way, but it’s devastating. I’m just glad no one got hurt,” he said.

Uprooted trees, branches on the ground may cover the ground, but neighbors helping neighbors cover the streets.

“People are starting to know who everybody is, that’s good!” Balk said.