Photos: Powerful storm causes widespread damage around Lake Geneva
The Lake Geneva area was cleaning up Saturday after a powerful storm blew through on Friday, killing three children when their boat capsized on Geneva Lake and causing a wide swath of damage from Sharon to Como.Â
People assess the damage of a row of power lines brought down on on South Lake Shore Drive on Saturday after a strong storm.
Boats sit in shallow water off Big Foot Beach on July 4 in Lake Geneva.
Penny Roehrer walks through her debris-ridden yard in Lake Geneva after assessing damage to her home, which had a tree fall on to during the recent storm.
A cyclist rides by a tree branch that had fallen on a power line on South Lake Shore Drive during the recent Lake Geneva storms.
A person walks past damage along the White River on Saturday after a strong storm that blew through Lake Geneva.
Cars pass by the top of a tree that had fallen upside down and pulled a power line down with it.
People play in the water off Big Foot Beach on July 4 in Lake Geneva.
A family runs in to Lake Geneva off of Big Foot Beach on Saturday, July 4, 2026 in Lake Geneva, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
Several motorists taking shelter from the storm were badly injured when this silo near Sharon fell onto their vehicles Friday.
Debris from a fallen silo is scattered across a field after a powerful storm moved through Sharon Friday afternoon.
Alliant Energy reported 7,400 people were left without power in the Sharon area after Friday’s storm.
About 40 homes were damaged in the Sharon area Friday night.
Several motorists taking shelter from the storm were badly injured when this silo near Sharon fell onto their vehicles Friday.
Debris from a fallen silo is scattered across a field after a powerful storm moved through Sharon Friday afternoon.
Alliant Energy reported 7,400 people were left without power in the Sharon area after Friday’s storm.
About 40 homes were damaged in the Sharon area Friday night.
Justin Woods pours diesel on a pile of burning branches he had collected from his yard after a strong storm blew through the day before on Saturday, July 4, 2026 in the town of Geneva, Wis. , Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
Theresa Wright, left, piles branches on a trailer while Angeli Soto chops them up before they are taken to Soto’s farm to be burned on Saturday, July 4, 2026 in the town of Geneva, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
Part of a tree sits inside a home after a strong storm brought trees down across Walsworth County on Saturday, July 4, 2026 in the town of Geneva, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
A linesman from Shade Tree Company wrestles loose a branch that had fallen on a power line during a strong storm that blew through the day before on Saturday, July 4, 2026 in Como, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
A fallen tree brought up a piece of asphalt in a driveway after a strong storm blew through the day before on Saturday, July 4, 2026 in the town of Geneva, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
Ricci Capezio clears branches from his driveway following a strong storm that blew through the day before on Saturday, July 4, 2026 in the town of Geneva, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
An American flag hangs from a utility pole above a pile of branches that were gathered on the curb after a strong storm blew through the day before on Saturday, July 4, 2026 in Como, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
Deb Dehmlow talks to a neighbor while cleaning up the park on the shore of Lake Como after a strong storm blew through the day before on Saturday, July 4, 2026 in the town of Geneva, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
Fallen trees are tangled with power lines after a strong storm blew through the day before on Saturday, July 4, 2026 in the town of Geneva, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
An American flag hangs from the arm of a small excavator in a front yard on Saturday, July 4, 2026 in the town of Geneva, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
In the areas that were hardest hit, such as Como, the restoration process has been more difficult because of the amount of debris that must be removed to safely make repairs or rebuild.
The three children were recovered from the sunken ship by divers, according to Geneva Lake Law Enforcement Agency
The team helped clear debris at Como Community Church, where the storm snapped trees in half and left limbs scattered across the property.
It all started with Stinebrink’s Piggly Wiggly, the parking lot where the emergency crews were staging.
Caleb Oswald, 6, and Abigail Oswald, 7, of Wheaton, Illinois, were two of the three fatalities following a boating accident on Geneva Lake during the severe storm.
The family plans to create a legacy fund for children who might not be able to afford sports — such as tennis and softball, which were two of Kate’s favorites, or for children who wish to adopt rescue animals.
Another meal is scheduled for 2-6 p.m. today.Â
Residents may take debris to the city’s brush drop-off site, 1065 Carey St., from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 5 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to noon, Saturday.
Residents who are interested in volunteering or who are still need of storm clean-up assistance can call 262-308-1105 or email response@widrt.org.
The information gathered will help document the extent of damage throughout the county and support recovery efforts.
