Report on February 2008 Storm Response - Wisconsin Emergency ...

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$J1L(lO~ \~ ~~ - Center for Investigative Reporting$

But eyes on the ground, in hindsight, couldn’t possible see as many as 2,000 vehicles stretched out along 20 miles or more of Blockages on I-39/90 occurred during the night for about 24 miles between mile marker 152 in Dane County to mile marker 176 in Rock County. highway. It would take an overflight by a National Guard helicopter later in the evening to get the first accurate, eyes-on assessment of the problem. Triggering the problem in northbound/westbound lanes in Dane County was a hill in the vicinity of MM 156. Because of this grade, slow speeds and icy pavement, commercial tractor trailer rigs could not move forward. As their progress was stopped, other vehicles filled in behind them and were blocked. The problem grew as more and more vehicles bunched up behind the blockage with nowhere to go. Source: Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs – 12 –
The Response Response to the winter storm event grew slowly as the snowfall continued, conditions worsened and the weather’s effects mounted. Initially, agencies were able to manage consequences within their areas of responsibility effectively, but by Wednesday morning the incidents requiring response grew more serious and more frequent. The chronology of events, as recounted in the following agency log excerpts, reveals the approach of an exceptionally intense lingering winter storm, clues that an emergency was quickly developing, and evidence that neither a timely assessment nor a flawless response was made by government agencies. [NOTE: The agency-submitted timelines from which these entries were excerpted are included, in their entirety, in Appendix 2] — Tuesday, February 5 — At 1 p.m., Wisconsin Emergency Management sets up a teleconference with the National Weather Service, WEM and National Guard staff and emergency management directors from counties expected to be affected by a severe winter storm. During a 2 p.m. Wisconsin Emergency Management meeting it is decided the State Emergency Operations Center will partially activate at 8 p.m. WEM staff are assigned to EOC shifts and other participating agencies are notified. Snow starts falling in Madison at 2:44 p.m. All 58 Dane County plow units are mobilized throughout the county. Three units—one triaxle and two single axle trucks—are on the Interstate continuously from the onset of the event. Per agreement between County and State maintenance staff on Feb. 2, a sand/salt mixed material was used. At 3:15 p.m. the Wisconsin National Guard Joint Operations Center (JOC) issues a warning order to units that National Guard support may be requested. At 7:30 p.m. a statewide news release is issued on activation of the State EOC. The State EOC is partially activated at 8 p.m. as planned. Wisconsin Emergency Management staff includes the WEM administrator. Other agencies represented are the Wisconsin State Patrol, Department of Transportation–Highways, and the Wisconsin National Guard. The Wisconsin National Guard JOC staff is elevated. By 10:20 p.m. the EOC records no major problems. Since 4 p.m. there have been 22 run-offs and eight property damage accidents reported. – 13 –
Page 1 and 2: Response to Traffic and Public Safe
Page 3 and 4: It was Mother Nature who threw a si
Page 5 and 6: Agencies contributing to this repor
Page 7 and 8: Executive Summary ————— W
Page 9 and 10: In the Patrol’s defense, they did
Page 11 and 12: jam could not have been cleared bef
Page 13 and 14: “One for the books” In the firs
Page 15 and 16: February 6, 2008, weather observati
Page 17: A closer look at the 48-hour period
Page 21 and 22: By 10:30 a.m. there is a significan
Page 23 and 24: State Patrol lieutenant reports at
Page 25 and 26: At about 5 p.m. Superintendent Coll
Page 27 and 28: mission determined for the snowmobi
Page 29 and 30: snowmobile clubs helping motorists
Page 31 and 32: off the interstate. Concerns are ex
Page 33 and 34: Review of Specific Issues Although
Page 35 and 36: But the way things actually occurre
Page 37 and 38: 8:00 a.m. Telephone news conference
Page 39 and 40: 2008-02-06-17.14.42.190000 Hwy 14 M
Page 41 and 42: Appendix 2-1 Department of Military
Page 43 and 44: 013 DOT- SP 014 DOT- SC 6-Feb 0920
Page 45 and 46: 038 DOT- SC 6-Feb 1555 The WisDOT S
Page 47 and 48: 060 WEM 6-Feb 2030 PIO now at the E
Page 49 and 50: 075 WEM 7-Feb 0450 Several conferen
Page 51 and 52: 019 WING 6-Feb 0454 DNR contacted W
Page 53 and 54: 059 6-Feb 2015 Watch NCO #5 contact
Page 55 and 56: 097 WING 7-Feb 0015 105th Cav First
Page 57 and 58: 137 WING 7-Feb 1215 105th CAV notif
Page 59 and 60: 026 WSP 6-Feb 0500 Road Condition <
Page 61 and 62: 101 WSP 6-Feb 1225 Received calls t
Page 63 and 64: 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152
Page 65 and 66: 192 193 194 195 196 WSP 6-Feb 1615
Page 67 and 68: WSP 6-Feb 1700 approx Telephone cal
Page 69 and 70:
272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280
Page 71 and 72:
316 WSP 6-Feb 1916 SB 145 Duelly st
Page 73 and 74:
355 356 369 WSP 6-Feb 1938 Daughter
Page 75 and 76:
397 398 399 400 401 402 403 404 405
Page 77 and 78:
418 419 420 421 422 423 424 425 426
Page 79 and 80:
444 445 446 WSP 7-Feb 0130 approx T
Page 81 and 82:
Appendix 2-4 Department of Transpor
Page 83 and 84:
036 DOT 6-Feb ~1650 State Patrol in
Page 85 and 86:
052 DOT 7-Feb 0045 EOC. SUBJECT: SI
Page 87 and 88:
079 DOT 7-Feb 0845 080 DOT 7-Feb 08
Page 89 and 90:
098 DOT 7-Feb 1320 Dave Vieth conta
Page 91 and 92:
008 DNR 6-Feb 13:35 Lt. Sievers of
Page 93 and 94:
Engfer 022 DNR 6-Feb 19:50 approx E
Page 95 and 96:
034 DNR 7-Feb 00:00 - 06:00 Wardens
Page 97 and 98:
043 DNR 7-Feb 07:00-08:00 Janesvill
Page 99 and 100:
004 DCEM 5-Feb 1443 Notification re
Page 101 and 102:
030 DCEM 6-Feb 1036 City of Madison
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055 DC911 6-Feb 1304 Rock Co somewh
Page 105 and 106:
091 DCEM 6-Feb 1621 Briefing - ____
Page 107 and 108:
110 DCEM 6-Feb 1828 WEM EOC and Sta
Page 109 and 110:
148 DCEM 6-Feb 1945 Director spoke
Page 111 and 112:
190 DCEM 6-Feb 2145 Conference call
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223 DCEM 7-Feb 121 Reestablished ph
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254 McFFD 7-Feb 430 McFarland Fire
Page 117 and 118:
Appendix 2-7 Rock County Event Time
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041 042 043 RC 6-Feb 1839 Connors c
Page 121 and 122:
RC 6-Feb 2131 First conference call
Page 123 and 124:
RC 7-Feb 0053 Conference call notes
Page 125 and 126:
Appendix 3-1 Wisconsin Department o
Page 127 and 128:
EOC Staffing Was it adequate? Did e
Page 129 and 130:
capabilities are brought to bear at
Page 131 and 132:
Page 133 and 134:
transferred to the State Patrol Def
Page 135 and 136:
and motor assists. 27 of those call
Page 137 and 138:
Troopers and Inspectors were making
Page 139 and 140:
1600 hours: Kathy Krusiec telephone
Page 141 and 142:
eports that there is not enough roo
Page 143 and 144:
February 6, 2008, 2000 to 2400 hour
Page 145 and 146:
2200 hours: Superintendent Collins
Page 147 and 148:
vehicles. Officers are waking up dr
Page 149 and 150:
and 460 vehicles northbound, the ma
Page 151 and 152:
———————————
Page 153 and 154:
The department does have a process
Page 155 and 156:
• Road information text and map c
Page 157 and 158:
Page 159 and 160:
Communications Confusion regarding
Page 161 and 162:
Mobilization of the National Guard
Page 163 and 164:
In the future it would be helpful t
Page 165 and 166:
Appendix 3-7-2 Rock County Public W
Page 167 and 168:
Appendix 4 Warnings, Advisories and
Page 169 and 170:
STATE OF WISCONSIN \ DEPARTMENT OF
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