Madison, WI resident plows out (Photo: Peggy Williams)
Wisconsin’s Governor Jim Doyle declared a “State of Emergency,” put the National Guard on active duty alert, and ordered all state offices and all campuses of the University of Wisconsin (with the exception of UW-Milwaukee and UW Superior) closed because of the severity of the blizzard that wreaked havoc with highways and power lines today.
“Wisconsin’s emergency workers are working hard to keep people safe,” Governor Doyle said via a news release statement. “State offices are closed for business to ensure we are keeping people off the roads and allowing emergency response crews to do their jobs.”
Madison, the state’s capital city received 17.9 inches of snow on its west side. Schools and businesses throughout the state closed, including Madison's two largest malls and numerous health clinics (hospitals remained open). Madison’s bus system closed, and most flights in and out of the Dane County Airport were cancelled for most of the day. Milwaukee's Mitchell International Airport saw dozens of flights cancelled as well, even though that city received mostly rain due to the warm temperatures.
Approximately 30,000 residents throughout Southeastern Wisconsin lost electrical power, due to fallen tree branches. With temperatures hovering around 30 degrees for most of the storm, the snow was wet and heavy.
University of Wisconsin-Madison took advantage of the unexpected “holiday” to create a 10 foot diameter snowball (see video below) and to hold what may be the world’s largest snowball fight.
The State of Emergency went into effect for all 72 counties in Wisconsin Thursday evening as the storm was just revving up. The State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) went into full gear, monitoring highways, coordinating with the State Patrol and the Department of Natural Resources (who sent wardens out to help patrol the highways), and disseminating public information. Heavy duty vehicles with chained were put on ready alert at ten National Guard facilities throughout the state. At least nine of those vehicles were deployed during the day.
By 8pm Wednesday evening (Dec.9) the blizzard that covered most of the upper Midwest had been downgraded to Wind Chill Advisories. The wind chill is expected to drop to -20 degrees overnight.
YouTube video of University of Wisconsin-Madison students' giant snowball:
Snowmen face down the plows on Gilman Street, Madison, WI
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