Samaritan's Purse Deploys Volunteers to Wisconsin After EF3 Tornado
Samaritan's Purse sent its Disaster Relief Unit to Appleton, Wisconsin, on July 29, 2026, after an EF3 tornado with 140 mph winds tore through the Fox Valley region on July 27. Volunteers are clearing debris, removing fallen trees, and tarping damaged roofs. Billy Graham Evangelistic Association chaplains are also on site providing spiritual support.
Samaritan's Purse arrived in Appleton, Wisconsin, on July 29, 2026, two days after an EF3 tornado ripped through the Fox Valley area with peak winds of 140 mph. The storm stayed on the ground for more than 20 minutes, damaging hundreds of homes across Appleton, Menasha, and Neenah.
The organization's Disaster Relief Unit #3, a fully equipped tractor-trailer, set up operations at the Alliance Church of Appleton at 2693 Grand Chute Boulevard. Volunteer teams are helping residents recover personal belongings, clear fallen trees, remove debris, and install tarps on damaged roofs to stop further water damage.
Chaplains from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Rapid Response Team are working alongside the cleanup crews. One local Navy veteran whose home was damaged called the volunteers "living proof that God exists."
Samaritan's Purse plans to stay in the area through at least August 21, 2026, though leadership said the timeline could extend if community needs require it. The effort is coordinated with local groups including Volunteer Fox Cities and the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region.
The Wisconsin response is part of a busy year for the organization, which has also addressed tornado damage in Mississippi and flooding in Texas, West Virginia, and Louisiana in 2026.
