When The Storm Hits Home
How Mayville’s Values — and Our Training Center — Build a Resilient Community
A Night I’ll Never Forget
On the night of the tornado, I thought I might not make it home alive.
My last text to my daughter was, “A tornado just hit a house in Juneau. I don’t think we’ll get one in Mayville, but I can’t say for sure.” She was babysitting two young kids across the street, and I had jumped in an ambulance to do storm spotting when the sirens went off.
We were at our assigned lookout point when the sky suddenly went dark. Over the radio, I heard one of Mayville’s fire engines: “We have a confirmed funnel cloud on TW just across from Piggly Wiggly.”
Funnel cloud? TW just across from Piggly Wiggly? That’s where we were parked.
We did a Y-turn to look behind us—and there it was, looking like it was about to drop right on top of us. We hadn’t seen it because we were facing toward town. Just then, our assistant EMS director radioed, telling us to get out of there—but we were already moving. Our ambulance sped down the hill onto Horicon Street, heading toward town, hoping to get out of the tornado’s path.
As we passed the first intersection, I saw my fitness business. My wife was inside, teaching her grade school dance academy students. I tried to text her. No reply.
Both the ambulance and the wind picked up speed as we raced toward Main Street, then turned onto John Street toward the industrial park, thinking we’d avoid the tornado’s direct path. But the rain started falling in sheets, and as we neared the cemetery, the ambulance struggled to stay on the road. Trees started breaking off, trunks flying across the street like they were weightless. We were struck by something — maybe a chunk of roof from one of the factories. We zig-zagged through debris until a downed tree blocked our path. Forced onto a side street, more trees came down in front of us. My partner, a Marine, made a split-second decision: we went over the curb and through several yards, making our own path back to the main streets, hoping for safety. Friends were texting, asking if I was okay. Honestly, I didn’t know. And I still hadn’t heard from my wife or daughter.
The tornado that went through our city in May didn’t just test the strength of our buildings; it tested the strength of our character — revealing the depth of our resilience, our compassion, and our ability to come together.
The Four-Way Test: A Community Compass
In moments like these, what guides us? For Rotary International, it's the Four-Way Test - a simple but serious framework for decision-making and community action. It asks us to consider, in all we think, say, or do:
Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
You don’t have to be a Rotarian to see the wisdom in these questions. In fact, these are the same principles that guide our emergency services and, I believe, the heart of Mayville itself. Throughout this article, I’ll show how each part of the Four-Way Test shaped our response and continues to shape our future.
Goodwill in Action: The Spirit of Mayville
(Will it build goodwill and better friendships?)
While my story is just one thread in the fabric of that night, it’s the stories of our neighbors that truly show the heart of Mayville. One resident told me:
“While we didn’t have much damage, we were without power for over 24 hours—and the kindness we received was overwhelming. Someone came and cut up the large branch that fell from our tree, my husband’s boss loaned us a generator, and our neighbors let me bake all my sourdough for my bakery business and do dishes at their place. They even brought us dinner that first night. Coffee at Open Door and a free scoop at Sweet Peas were such sweet surprises.
“And we can’t forget all those who worked tirelessly to clean up our town, restore power, direct traffic, and serve in countless unseen ways. The volunteers, officers, and crews—your efforts did not go unnoticed. So incredibly grateful for this generous, thoughtful community.”
That’s the power of goodwill and better friendships in action. In the face of crisis, Mayville came together—not just to survive, but to support, uplift, and care for one another. This is what the Four-Way Test looks like when it’s lived out loud.
Facing the Truth: Our Strengths and Our Limits
(Is it the truth?)
But as proud as I am of our community, I have to be honest about what I saw that night and in the days that followed. Our emergency services did an incredible job, but we were stretched thin. If the tornado had been even a little stronger, or if more communities had been hit, our resources and staff could have been overwhelmed.
Telling the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable, is the first step toward real progress. The truth is, we’re not immune to the staffing and training challenges facing EMS departments across the country. We owe it to ourselves and to each other to face these facts head-on, so we can build a safer future for all.
Building Fairness and Benefit: The Role of the Mayville EMS Training Center
(Is it fair to all concerned? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?)
That’s where the Mayville EMS Training Center comes in. It’s more than just a building—it’s a commitment to fairness and benefit for all concerned.
Addressing the EMS Staffing Crisis: By training new EMTs right here in Mayville, we’re building a pipeline of professionals who know our community and are invested in its well-being. This ensures that everyone has access to timely, skilled emergency care. Fairness in action.
Advancing Skills for Current EMTs: The center allows us to offer advanced EMS education, so our responders can keep their skills sharp and stay up-to-date with the latest lifesaving techniques. This means better care for everyone, every time. A benefit to all concerned.
Local Talent, Local Commitment: Our instructors live in, understand, and serve our community. Our most recent class of Advanced EMT students had a nearly 100% first-time pass rate—almost double the national average. That’s a testament to the quality and commitment of our team, and it means our community benefits from the very best.
Expanding Community Training: We already provide CPR and first aid training to community members, and basic emergency response education for local businesses and organizations. With the new center, we can expand these programs, reach more people, and offer even more specialized training, so more neighbors, coworkers, and community partners are ready to act before EMS arrives. That’s fairness and benefit, multiplied.
This is the Four-Way Test in action: making sure everyone, from first responders to factory workers, has the knowledge and skills to help in a crisis.
A Call to Action: Help Us Build a More Resilient Mayville
(Living the Four-Way Test—together)
Real leadership is measured not just by what we say, but by what we do—especially when our community needs us most. The Mayville EMS Training Center is more than a building. It’s a promise: that we will keep investing in our people, our skills, and our shared future. But to fulfill that promise, we need your help.
Here’s how you can make a difference by living out the Four-Way Test in our community:
Speak the truth: Contact city hall, the public safety commission, and your alderpersons. Let them know you support the growth and expansion of the Mayville EMS Training Center—not just for the benefit of first responders, but for everyone who calls this community home.
Promote fairness: Share this message with your friends, family, and colleagues. Encourage them to get trained, get involved, and be part of our community’s safety net.
Build goodwill: If you’re a business or organization, consider partnering with us for training or support. Every act of partnership strengthens our bonds.
Ensure benefit to all: Remember, a safer, more prepared community is a stronger, more resilient community. Together, we can make sure that when the next test comes, Mayville is ready—not just to survive, but to thrive.
Thank you for your support, your service, and your commitment to the values that make Mayville strong.