Ringle Tornado Volunteers Rebuild Hometown After EF-3 Hit

When an EF-3 tornado ripped through Ringle, Wisconsin, last Friday, it didn't just destroy homes and trees. It transformed a community into a family united by purpose.

Nearly a week later, hundreds of volunteers continue working block by block to restore their small town. The Red Cross has joined local residents to assess damage, distribute emergency supplies, and prepare financial assistance for affected families.

For Luke Antoniewicz, this recovery effort hits close to home. He was at his parents' house in Ringle when the tornado touched down, and he's been on the ground ever since, volunteering with both the Red Cross and the Ringle Fire District.

"For a lot of people that have been living here for 30 plus years, it's going to look like when they first moved in," Antoniewicz said. The tornado's destruction was so complete that the area will resemble the open fields of the 1980s, before decades of growth and development.

But Antoniewicz isn't dwelling on the loss. He's focused on rebuilding the community where he grew up, handing out supplies and gathering information to help neighbors start fresh.

The Ripple Effect

The response to Ringle's crisis shows how disasters can reveal the best in people. Volunteers who could be anywhere else are choosing to spend their days clearing debris, offering comfort, and planning for a stronger tomorrow.

This isn't just about emergency response anymore. It's about a community refusing to let a single day of destruction define their future. Every volunteer hour represents a vote of confidence in Ringle's comeback.

The physical landscape may look different, but the work happening now is planting seeds for something more valuable than trees. These volunteers are rebuilding trust, connection, and hope alongside homes and businesses.

Ringle will rise again, one helping hand at a time.