What began as a typical summer day quickly turned chaotic as powerful straight-line winds, heavy rain, and dangerous conditions swept through the area around midday. The storm caused widespread devastation: hundreds of trees and power lines were downed, buildings were damaged or collapsed, vehicles were crushed, and roads became impassable. The City of Lake Geneva declared a state of emergency as crews worked to clear debris and restore power. Tragically, the storm also led to hazardous waves on Geneva Lake, resulting in a boat capsizing that claimed the lives of three children. Our hearts go out to those families, and everyone affected.

In the midst of this, our home took a direct hit. Gale force winds ripped the nearby maple tree from its moorings and through the roof of our family home. Windows shattered, the ceiling fell in, the house moved off of its foundation. We took shelter in our basement and are incredibly grateful to be safe, but the road to recovery will be long and expensive. Insurance may not cover everything, and we face significant costs for temporary housing, repairs, debris removal, and replacing essentials.

Any support, donations, sharing this page, or kind words, would mean the world as we rebuild our lives in this closeknit community. Thank you for your generosity during this difficult time. Joe & Kathy DeCubellis