On April 17, 2026, The National Weather Service issued severe storm warnings across Wisconsin. Within hours, an EF-3 tornado with winds of 145 mph ripped through Kronenwetter, Weston, Ringle, and near Easton in Marathon County. The twister was on the ground for 17 minutes, covered 13.5 miles, and was as wide as six football fields.
Dozens of homes were damaged and hundreds of trees knocked down, leading to wide scattered power outages. Within minutes of the tornado touching down, local Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services (EDS), led by the Wausau Corps Community Outreach Coordinator Colleen Hilber, received an activation call.
She quickly assembled a team and carefully selected volunteers based on location and availability. When she arrived, the situation was chaotic. Families were displaced, communication strained, and uncertainty everywhere. Stationed at a local school, she became a central point of coordination.
“We had to slow things down. Survivors were in shock, and they are always our first priority,” she explained. “We immediately focused on them and meeting their basic human needs. Then we started working with other groups who offered their services. The generosity of others is always so heartwarming during disasters. They have a way of bringing people together.”
Through constant communication with emergency management and first responders, her team helped reunite families, provide food and water, and offer reassurance. Miraculously, despite widespread destruction that impacted 143 homes, no lives were lost.
“They didn’t even have to give out a Band-Aid. We were lucky,” she said.
In the days that followed, Colleen’s role shifted from rapid response to long-term support. She coordinated with local leaders, managed donations, and helped prevent well-intentioned but premature aid efforts from overwhelming the system.
“People want to help right away, which is amazing,” she says. “But we have to assess needs first.”
Colleen also focused heavily on emotional care by sitting with survivors, listening to their stories, and helping them process trauma. One particular moment really stood out to her. She spent an hour with a mother and her two young children who had been trapped in their basement as the tornado tore their home apart.
“The woman just cried,” Colleen said. “And sometimes, that’s what we’re called to do … to listen.”
Three weeks after the tornado, Colleen is still fielding calls from survivors who need a variety of assistance. Some families are transitioning into temporary housing, others are rebuilding, and there are those who are still processing what happened.
The Salvation Army EDS team continues to provide essentials, coordinate resources, and offer a steady presence to everyone who contacts them. In some cases, they may continue to need help for months or years following this disaster.
“Our assistance is not limited to the first few days,” Colleen said. “It’s about staying with people through the recovery process. We want to help survivors rebuild their lives.”
To support The Salvation Army’s ongoing disaster response efforts, please give today at HelpSalvationArmy.org.
