Scott Williams, swilliams@wolfrivermedia.com
Snowplow operators and other emergency crews in Shawano County say they are ready to manage a snowstorm that arrived here Tuesday afternoon and is expected to dump perhaps a foot of snow over the next 24 hours.
Police in Bonduel were checking on senior citizens known to have health issues to make sure those folks were comfortable and ready to ride out the storm at home.
“We try and stay connected with them,” Police Chief Todd Chaney said.
Public works crews and law enforcement said they had their equipment at the ready and could call in additional manpower if needed when the storm hits.
Shawano County Sheriff’s Capt. Tom Tuma said officials are urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel and stay off the roads if travel becomes too hazardous.
Tuma, however, also said officials could bring on additional manpower, if necessary, to handle a potential rash of weather-related traffic mishaps.
“It’s all based on what we’re seeing out there,” he said.
The National Weather Service has forecast that a large winter storm moving through the Midwest would bring between 8 and 12 inches of snow to areas of Wisconsin between Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning.
It would be the first major snowfall of the season for Shawano County since a storm dumped 10 inches here on Dec. 28 and 29.
“It’s going to be a significant storm, and people need to take precautions,” said Natalie Easterday, director of emergency management for Shawano County.
In Shawano, city public works crews were preparing to start snowplow operations Tuesday afternoon to make sure evening commuters have clear thoroughfares to make it home after work.
Public Works Director Eddie Sheppard said those crews then would return to the streets after midnight to clear travel for the Wednesday morning commute. The city has nine snowplows, plus front-end loaders and other equipment used in snow removal operations.
“We will get out there,” Sheppard said, “and we will stay out there.”