OCONTO COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) – “A lot of clean up at home, no electricity at home,” said Darlene Bierman.
Bierman couldn’t avoid the storms at her home in Appleton, or her home away from home in Mountain.
“We had a tree that was on the roof but luckily it was OK. It wasn’t so bad, a lot of debris on the roof, neighbors got a lot of damage,” said Bierman.
Many power lines like these were still down Monday in the Northwoods. Leaving people without power for the third day.
Wisconsin Public Service worked through the day to get them back up and running. While people assessed the damage to their homes, cars, and campers, all caused by falling trees.
“Nobody got harmed we just had a lot of damage,” said Beth Reed.
Reed is one of the owners of Maple Heights Campground in Lakewood.
“We have a siren that he started going around and warning customers,” said Reed.
It was that siren that possibly saved lives.
“The gentleman that was in this camper said it was the siren that made him get out,” said James Sinnaebe. Standing in front of a camper with such bad damage you can see the inside.
‘If the husband would not have [left], he would’ve been sitting in the seat that was crushed,” said Reed.
Most people at the campground took shelter in brick housed bathrooms.
“I rode it out in the camper it was a little scary,” said Sinnaebe. “I definitely heard some debris hit the roof and stuff. It was frightening looking outside and watching stuff blow by. I thought about bailing out, but I think I would’ve got blown away.”
After his experience, he has some advice to others:
“If you’re out camping, you’re in the woods, and they tell you get in the shelter- heed the warning,” he said.
