Portions of the roof blew off Roundhouse Manor. Photo by Carrie Forster/Kaukauna Community News

KAUKAUNA — Twenty-two residents of Round House Manor in Kaukauna remain in temporary housing after a tornado ripped the roof off the apartment building May 21, 2024.

Currently, there are 11 residents at the Days Inn of Kaukauna and 11 at the Extended Stay in Appleton, said Wendi Butkovich, Service Coordinator at Round House Manor.

An EF-1 tornado raced through Kaukauna, touching down near the St. Mary’s Cemetery, then traveling across the south side where it ripped the roof off Round House Manor before lifting off behind the old library downtown.

Here’s how you can help:

Because the Days Inn offers small refrigerators and microwave ovens in the rooms, cold and frozen meals are limited with what residents can store.

Instead, Butkovich says she is hoping to get non-perishable items and other non food items.

“Perhaps a bag with some microwave soups, small juices or sodas, socks, puzzle books, pencils, gift cards to Kwik Trip because it’s close to the hotel,” she said.

The 11 residents at the Extended Stay have kitchenettes so they can store food easily.

For them, frozen homemade meals, small juices or soda, microwave meals, throw blankets, puzzle books and pencils, quarters for laundry and detergent pods.

Butkovich is asking people who can help to contact her first at 920-203-6514.

Butkovich said the west side of the building was unaffected, but there still are systems that need to be inspected before power and gas can be turned back on.

The most heavily damaged east side of the building could be months before residents return.



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By Dan Plutchak

Dan Plutchak, born and raised in Kaukauna, is cofounder of Kaukauna Community News.