'We will be back': Menasha community takes first steps toward recovery after devastating tornado
MENASHA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- We heard from homeowners in Menasha Tuesday, in the area hit hardest when an EF-3 tornado hit Monday.
Neighborhoods just north of the Menasha channel into Lake Winnebago have been buzzing with neighborhoods, contractors and community members, many saying they've never seen anything like this before. They're doing whatever they can to kickstart what could be a long road to recovery.
Andy Schroeder is one of hundreds of people in Menasha working to clean up as much as possible after a powerful tornado left behind devastating damage.
"My garage is ripped right off of the foundation," he said. "The wind got in it, picked it up and moved it over."
Even inside his home, the storm made its mark.
"All this stuff wasn't on the floor. As you can see, glass everywhere."
It also left behind complicated emotions.
"I'm actually kind of mad. Not mad, disappointed that...actually, I'm p***** off," Schroeder said. There you go, I said it."
Ro and Carmen Garcia are focused on clearing enough debris so they can move their son's wheelchair into the car.
"I'm in shock," Ro said. "I'm like, what should I do? What -- should I scream? Should I cry? What should I do? I don't know what to do."
"With all these powerlines down and the streets blocked, we can't get the van out."
Still, they feel grateful to have a house at all when others aren't as lucky.
"We have a few broken windows," Carmen said. Torn siding, holes. But that's it, so we're doing pretty well against a lot of the other homes."
The neighborhood's first steps toward recovery are fueled by support from each other.
"Just working together. Being together. That's how you stay strong."
"Even though it looks like a battle zone right now, we will be back, Menasha strong."
We saw utility trucks from all over the state in Menasha Tuesday working to clear powerlines and poles, trees, logs, and debris.
There are a handful of houses, garages, and other structures that will need to be demolished, meaning many people will have to start from scratch.
There's no power, with electricity not expected to come back on for several days, and limited water. That makes this process even more frustrating. Despite the disarray, there's much optimism and kindness to be seen in the community.