High wind warning: August storms prepared residents
WAUWATOSA, Wis. - A high wind warning in effect, Wednesday night's storm presents a serious reminder for many across Wisconsin as to what's possible under such severe weather conditions.
Just over four months ago, thunderstorms knocked out power to more than 250,000 customers – and people have learned from what happened to prepare this time around.
Near 106th and Becher in West Allis, memories of August are fresh on the mind of Matthew Saari.
SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News
"It was unexpected," Saari said. "I've never really had a situation like that before. Nothing can really prepare you for that until something happens."
Saari's fence is still dented after winds tore a pair of limbs off the tree in his backyard and knocked out his power for a few days. This time, even with menacing clouds overhead, he said his family is ready.
August thunderstorm damage in southeastern Wisconsin
"Generator's got gas, that's good, just in case. And got bags ready and you know, just gonna hold out and hopefully nothing major happens. And if it does, ready to go some place safe immediately," said Saari.
The city of Milwaukee took nearly 1,000 calls for damaged trees in August, and several homes and cars were also impacted.
FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX6 News app for iOS or Android.
Brian Hammermeister remembers his main concern that night was the wind. It is why, this time, he has tied down all his inflatable Christmas decorations in the front yard.
"They're kind of expensive, and I'd rather not have them get thrown to the streets for somebody to run over," Hammermeister said.
Brian Hammermeister's tied-down decorations
He is hoping this storm will blow through on a much lighter note – especially after tornadoes tore through Kentucky, Arkansas and other states in the past several days.
"Worried about any type of damage to the house and the people in the area, and hopefully everybody just stays safe and hunkers down when they need to," said Hammermeister.
Featured
High wind, extra We Energies crews ready after historic August outage
We Energies brought in extra crews amid the high wind warning.starting Wednesday night -- everyone on standby a few months after strong storms in August knocked out power for more than 200,000.
Featured
Strong wind in Wisconsin could tip semis, trucks: 'Can be tragic'
The National Weather Service forecasts strong winds with possible gusts up to 60 miles per hour across Wisconsin. This weather can really impact travel, adding some dangerous obstacles, debris, construction equipment or even tipped vehicles.
Featured
Tornado Disaster Relief Fund Drive: You can make a difference
FOX6 and the American Red Cross have teamed up to offer some comfort and relief to those coping with the aftermath of the tornadoes.