STANLEY, WI (OnFocus) – The storm that brought winds up to 75 miles per hour on Wednesday night took a toll on the City of Stanley.
The town located at the intersection of Highway 29 and County Highway H experienced high winds that brought down power lines, collapsed roofs and did countless other damage to property. No injuries or deaths have been reported at this time.
As residents woke up and walked around town, greeting them were sights of buildings that had collapsed, trees and branches were scattered all over the city streets and countless other residents and volunteers were already beginning to rebuild their city.
The storm appeared to have a relatively narrow destructive path as a resident pointed out that he stepped outside after the storm and didn’t see any damage near his house. As soon as he walked a block or two down the street, he realized the storm was much worse than he had thought.
OnFocus’s Branden Bodendorfer went to Stanley to report live from the scene.
According to the Stanley Police Department, 75% of Excel Energy customers in the city were without power from 9:15 p.m. on Wednesday night to the time of the update at 6 a.m. on Thursday morning.
The Stanley Fire Department was called to a gas leak that occurred as a result of the damage as well.
The destruction caused by the storm was not due to a confirmed tornado as of yet.
The Stanley Police Department thanked neighboring departments and emergency workers for their assistance during and after the storm.
“Thank you to all of the neighboring law enforcement, fire department, and EMS personnel who swarmed the city within minutes and provided aid throughout the overnight to ensure the safety and well-being of our residents,” the department said. “We also want to thank city residents who lent a hand to their neighbors and emergency responders immediately following this storm as your assistance was invaluable in ensuring everyone’s safety, while also preserving property of those that could be salvaged.”
In a Facebook post, the department could see the damage that was already prevalent during the night on Wednesday but was confident that the community would come together to help clean up.
“Daybreak will reveal the true extent of damages within the city but we are certain this storm will bring out the true definition of community as we begin to recover and move forward,” the department said.
Stanley-Boyd and Thorp Schools are closed on Thursday due to not having power to the buildings.
We will have continuing coverage of the destruction and cleanup that has occurred in Stanley throughout the day.
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