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The board also approved a resolution that asks Gov. Tony Evers, as well as state and federal representatives and any agencies to “maximize the availability of resources� to assist county residents in tornado recovery efforts in the towns of Porter, Union, Magnolia and Fulton, as well as the cities of Evansville and Edgerton.

In his administrative note in the resolution advocating for resources, Smith wrote that the event is unlikely to qualify for a federal disaster declaration, so he recommended advocating for one through a resolution.

The residential property damage is estimated to be about $2.5 million, and agricultural and equipment damage estimates are still unknown. Private property insurance is expected to cover only a part of the losses, but the resolution states that more resources are needed to help affected residents rebuild homes and agricultural operations.

Debris from the tornado filtered into the Yahara River and Badfish Creek in the northwestern portion of the county, and according to the resolution, the county does not have specialized equipment nor resources necessary to conduct waterway restoration to make the waterways safe for recreational uses.

Copies of the advocacy resolution will go to Evers, the secretary of the Wisconsin DNR and Rock CountyÃÛèÖÊÓƵ legislative and congressional representatives.

Three homes were destroyed during the severe weather. Emergency Management Director Kevin Wernet said during an update regarding the tornado response that the total number of residences impacted had been scaled back to 30.

Wernet also said agricultural property took a hit.

“It’ll take a while before we find out what the agricultural impact will be,� Wernet said, adding that there will be work with the UW-Extension to make a determination.

Wernet said local law enforcement agencies like the Rock County SheriffÃÛèÖÊÓƵ Office and police departments in Janesville, Beloit and Evansville were on site, as were agencies from municipalities like Stoughton, Verona and Fitchburg.

“It doesn’t matter when we have one of these large ones. Everyone helps out and we pool together. We had a Janesville battalion chief help out with operations,� Wernet said, adding that “You can be proud of all those agencies.�

Sheriff Curt Fell said “this was the epitome of collaboration.�

“It was phenomenal. It was something to be a point of pride. It was a disaster and you had no shortage of people helping out and it couldn’t have been handled any better,� Fell said.

District 2 board member Alan SweeneyÃÛèÖÊÓƵ district was one of those impacted. His district covers the town of Porter, as well as wards 1, 2 and 3 of the town of Union. He thanked Fell, Wernet and their staffs for their work.

“I’d like to call out the hundreds of volunteers that came out. It makes you proud to be in a neighborhood with that kind of support,� Sweeney said while tearing up. “They didn’t have to come but it was a sight to see at moments. It was a farm that was not too far from me that lost some cattle and the rest were scattered around the neighborhood and to see the young adults herding those cattle back a couple miles to the farm – many of those young adults had never seen the backside of a cow. Another sight was to see 50-75 people pick up everything.�

Only one person was injured during the severe weather. Fell told the board that person was in their car when a tornado made contact with it at Highway 14 and Territorial Road. That person was treated for minor injuries.