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

At 4 p.m. the chief of staff to the Dane County Executive called for an update on
storm and response efforts to stranded motorists countywide. Both the Highway
Commissioner and Emergency Management Director indicate concerns about
backup increasing on Interstate. Chief of staff offers whatever resources necessary
to deal with weather-related issues through the afternoon and evening.
From 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., the State Patrol reports “non-stop” phone calls from
stranded motorists. The calls are transferred from the 9-1-1 centers in Rock and
Dane counties. A State Patrol lieutenant observes the scene near mile markers 156
to 158 on I-39/90 northbound. The front end of the backup is determined to be at
mile marker 154. The lieutenant determines that, if wreckers and snowplows
worked together, traffic would be able to move.
Also between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., two State Patrol sergeants discuss a state of
emergency declaration.
At 4:15 p.m. STOC learns from State Patrol of a 13–14 mile backup on I-39/90 at
milepost 154 due to poor road conditions.
Dane County develops Incident Action Plan at 4:15 p.m. Plan addresses safety
issues: motorists stuck in rural areas; Assuring that emergency vehicles can
continue to get to emergencies; concerns that elderly/shut-ins receive needed
meals, medicines, oxygen; concern for people who have left their vehicles.
In a 4:21 p.m. briefing of Dane County agencies these issues are discussed: State
Patrol has teamed with the DNR to assess motorists along the Interstate using
strike teams; At 2 p.m. tow trucks decide to come off roads. 9-1-1 operations
manager reports: 3 different categories of issues 1) cars disabled and out of the
roadway, 2) need a response and can’t get a response immediately, 3) Interstate
east of Utica south to the Rock County line is sitting still with 1,000 cars backed up
for 13 miles in two westbound lanes. Many of the trucks that have sat there for
long term have drifting all around them now. A woman from LaValle has been
sitting on the interstate since 11:30 a.m. hearing no public information on the
radio, not seeing any plows.
At 4:23 p.m. Dane County 9-1-1 supervisor phones State Patrol with concerns
about getting ambulances out if needed. Snowbanks on highway shoulders are 4
feet high; vehicles are starting to drift in. Backup begins at mile marker 154 and
stretches back to about marker 167. Estimate is 1,000 vehicles in backup. Dane
County offers assistance.
The State EOC informs a State Patrol captain at 4:29 p.m. that Columbia County
will be pulling plows off roads at 7 p.m. Green County has already pulled its plows.
The EOC passes on a Rock County report of 50–60 mph wind gusts.
At 4:30 p.m., Rock County reports that the backup in the westbound lanes had
reached the I-39/90 interchange at State Hwy 26/U.S. Hwy 14 at Janesville.
Continue plowing, sanding eastbound only; plow trucks take other surface roads
back to I-39/90 and STH 59 to make next round eastbound.
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