On July 27, July 30, and August 1, 2026, members of the Green Bay Mike and Key Club, who are also members of the Brown-Kewaunee County Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®), deployed to Winnebago County, Wisconsin, following a tornado that struck on July 27. The tornado hit Appleton and caused severe damage in Menasha, Fox Crossing, and nearby communities, with peak winds estimated at 140 mph and a 12.1-mile path up to 1,500 yards wide.
Pamela Evenson, KDØGPH; Sam Reid, W9SJR, and Sam Martin, KN9SAM, responded to a request from the Winnebago County Emergency Management Office for ARES radio assistance. When they arrived, team members were paired with other volunteers from Community Emergency Response Teams and local officials to form damage assessment teams assigned to specific areas.
While deployed, Evenson, Reid, and Martin conducted damage assessment operations. There were no deaths and only 60 injuries reported as a result of this tornado. Amateur radio provided radio communication between team members and the net control station at the volunteer coordination center.
About ARES®
The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment with their local ARES leadership, for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes.
Amateur radio operators use their training, skills, and equipment to provide communications during emergencies When All Else Fails®. Hams serve their communities when storms or other disasters damage critical communication infrastructure, including cell towers, and wired and wireless networks. Amateur radio can function completely independently of the internet and phone systems. An amateur radio station can be set up almost anywhere in minutes. Hams can quickly raise a wire antenna in a tree or on a mast, connect it to a radio and power source, and communicate effectively with others.