Cleanup efforts along Edison Avenue begin Sunday, June 23, following a confirmed EF-2 tornado that hit Janesville’s southside Saturday evening, June 22.
Cleanup efforts along Edison Avenue begin Sunday, June 23, following a confirmed EF-2 tornado that hit Janesville’s southside Saturday evening, June 22.
Anthony Wahl/For the 69
JANESVILLE— Organizations that could be of help to those impacted by a tornado that touched down Saturday night on Janesville’s southside, came together Tuesday to offer their assistance.
The National Weather Service has confirmed that 8 tornadoes touched down in southern Wisconsin on Saturday night, June 22.
Those included an EF-0 near Tennyson in Grant County, an EF-1 near Marshall in Dane County, an EF-1 in the Watertown area, an EF-1 in the Fontana area in Walworth County, an EF-1 in the Delavan area in Walworth County, an EF-2 in the Argyle area, an EF-0 in Belmont and the EF-2 that formed near Footville and tracked south-southeast through the town of Rock and into the city of Janesville.
The tornado that hit Janesville packed wind gusts of 115 miles an hour. It was on the ground for 11 minutes, from 7:42 to 7:53 p.m. It was the first time since 1991 that a tornado had touched down in the city of Janesville.
Resource event
On Tuesday, as cleanup continued on the city’s southside, Rock County hosted a multi-agency resource center event at the Daniel Hale Williams Resource Center, 1717 Center Ave., from noon to 6 p.m.
In all, 14 organizations were on hand Tuesday, sharing with those assembled different ways they could offer support — including food, shelter, fraud protection services, insurance resources and removal of storm debris.
Organizers said they did not track how many people in need of aid attended.
Tammy Kettleson, with Rock County Emergency Management, said organizers spoke individually with those who attended to help them compile lists of their damaged property and to help them if needed to connect with special services.
The county plans to host another agency resource center event next Tuesday, July 2, again at the Daniel Hale Williams Resource Center, 1717 Center Ave., starting at 4 p.m.
Volunteer hub to remain open
Meanwhile, a volunteer hub that was set up Sunday at the former Rock County Job Center at 1900 Center Avenue, will remain open until at least Friday, it was announced.
Both people in need of assistance and volunteers looking for ways to help can still come to the former job center.
Tree and brush collection
The city of Janesville says it will soon begin collecting tree and brush debris from residential properties along the tornado’s path.
Residents should place tree and brush on the public right-of-way of their yard near the roadway.
Crews will not remove tree and brush from yards and sites outside the public right-of-way. Residents are encouraged to cut large branches and trees into sections no longer than 4-to-8 feet.
The city said it expects tree and brush collection to continue through July 3, at which point it will reassess the need. Residents in the collection area are asked to park off-street during this time.
The city will not pick up structural debris nor other solid waste as part of this response effort. Residents may take that to city’s sanitary landfill at 525 Black Bridge Road.
The landfill hours and accepted materials are listed at .
Residents along the tornado path are asked, if possible, to bring tree and brush debris to the city’s compost site, also at 525 Black Bridge Road, themselves. That will speed up the curbside collection, city officials said.
The city has waived storm-related disposal fees for residents at both the landfill and compost site through Saturday, June 29. Residents must show an ID to prove they live in the area directly affected by the tornado.
Trash and recycling pickup will continue as regularly scheduled. However, some other city services may be delayed as the storm response continues.
