EAGLE, Wis. -- Justin Heim, 27, fire chief for the village of Eagle, who has lived in Eagle for 2 1/2 years and is the only full-time paid employee of the Eagle Fire Department, knew he was in for a long night when he heard reports of a major storm approaching.
He just didn't realize at the time that the storm would directly affect him and his family.
When the storm began and he was alerted of reports of damage and a possible touchdown of a tornado, he was at home. He immediately led his wife, Michele, and two daughters to their home's basement, then headed to the fire station to activate the village's tornado warning sirens.
They didn't work.
"I don't have an answer as to they didn't (work)," he said.
While he was on command, he found out that his house had been destroyed but that his family was fine. It wasn't until 2 a.m. that he was able to look at his home.
His lives on S. Sherman St., where most of the damage occurred in that neighborhood.
"It's gone," he said of his house. "There's nothing there. It's like someone took the house and it's gone."
His wife and daughters spent the night in a motel.
He said that altogether six or seven houses were destroyed in the village, and that major damage in the area was limited to the village. Fewer that 10 people were injured, and just one person was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries, he said.
"But there are a lot of scared people," he said.
He said the village had received help from Walworth County, Jefferson County "and all points in between."
The fire department and a crew of roughly 100 people, including volunteers and rescue workers from neighboring communities, went to every single door in the village twice to check on people, he said.
"Quite a few streets are blocked, with downed trees and wires," Heim said. That includes his own street.
He did not have an estimate on the total amount of damage, but "it's going to be a long time before this mess is cleaned up. But this is a resilient community. Small town America."
He was worried about his own house and family, he said, but "I've got 5,700 other lives to make sure they're OK."
Village of Eagle Police Chief Russ Ehlers said there had been no reports of looting in the village and no arrests.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
