Report criticizes patrol’s response
Podcast Episode
WCLO's Steve Benton reports on Rock County's reaction to a critique of the response to an I-90 traffic jam
JANESVILLE — The Wisconsin State Patrol was slow to recognize an emergency when vehicles started backing up on Interstate 90/39 between Madison and Janesville during the winter’s biggest snowstorm Feb. 5-6, according to a report released this morning.
The State Patrol responded to events as they unfolded, but its delay in recognizing the emergency caused the loss of precious hours that could have allowed drivers to take other routes, which might have eased the depth and breadth of the problem, Wisconsin National Guard Brig. Gen. Don Dunbar wrote.
Thousands of motorists were stranded for up to 12 hours on the Interstate during the storm and its aftermath.
Gov. Jim Doyle asked Dunbar to develop the report in response to the storm that dumped more than a foot of snow and the resulting Interstate backup.
“Interagency coordination was excellent at the start of the storm but non-existent as the emergency grew and darkness fell on the stranded motorists,” Dunbar wrote in a letter to Doyle summarizing the 164-page report.
“The State Patrol was ineffective in its incident command role, but other state agencies also failed to respond effectively,” he wrote. “The Wisconsin Department of Transportation–Highways and Wisconsin Emergency Management, both of whom ran operations centers, could have added significant value at key inflection points, but did not.”
“Public communication regarding the storm was excellent and largely heeded by Wisconsin’s citizens, but public communication on the developing highway emergency was cumbersome and slow,” he wrote.
The report wasn’t all negative, however.
Dane and Rock counties were “very professional” in managing countywide emergencies throughout the day and filled significant gaps in state leadership to provide support and comfort to stranded motorists, Dunbar wrote.
The counties, however, could have provided significant information as it was received from county crews performing plowing, salt/sand and towing operations, the report said.
Dunbar also commended the Department of Natural Resources and Wisconsin National Guard.
“DNR wardens were superb in supporting the State Patrol and both affected counties with four-wheel-drive reconnaissance and snowmobile operations,” he wrote. “The National Guard contributed soldiers who delivered food, water and blankets to DNR and county organized snowmobile crews; the Guard also flew three critical aerial reconnaissance flights.”
State officials, however, “failed to recognize the larger picture,” he wrote.
“State and county highway departments’ inter-agency communication was virtually non-existent during this emergency, when coordination would have been invaluable to increasing the Patrol’s overall situational awareness,” he wrote.
Lessons must be learned, and steps must be taken to avoid future problems, the report stated.
Dunbar suggested:
-- The state must develop plans to shut down the Interstate if warranted, even if that means officials cannot offer a re-route to transiting traffic. This plan must be exercised by state agencies.
-- Alternative means of communication must be considered to alleviate the burden on 911 call centers and provide information to stranded motorists.
-- All emergency alert procedures must be reviewed and considered for future use if warranted.
-- A full review of operations center procedures must be undertaken by the DOT and Wisconsin Emergency Management. Those organizations should provide value to the troopers, first responders and county crews who are on point during an emergency.
Rep. Mike Sheridan, D-Janesville, said in a column in today’s Janesville Gazette that he’s heard from many constituents and motorists about the situation. Many of them told him the road was too narrow to allow plows to adequately clear lanes of traffic.
Sheridan said he’s requested the DOT move up its timeline for expansion and reconstruction of I-90 between the Illinois state line and Madison.
“Interstate 39/90 serves as a vital entry point into Wisconsin,” he wrote. “Expanding this stretch of road is critical not only for the safety of motorists but also to keep up with heavy truck traffic, economic development and tourism.”
Click here to read the Adjutant General's Report to Governor Doyle on the February 2008 Winter Storm [PDF - large download]
Feb 22, 2008 at 2:55 p.m.
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While Rock County may have done an exceptional job in what amounts to be an exceptional incident, overall, they do an exceptionally poor job of maintaining the roads. All too often I see plow trucks running down the county roads with the blade up, presumably so as not to ruin the bubble gum patch work they did over the summer months. Or maybe putting the blade down on these horrible roads might damage the equipment? Take a ride in easter Rock County - try Creek Road east of Hwy 140. Pack a lunch, and your tow straps.
Feb 22, 2008 at 1:33 p.m.
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FEMA.....
.
(F)eeling (E)xceptionally (M)ismanaged
(A)lready.
Feb 22, 2008 at 10:24 a.m.
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FEMA? OMG!
Feb 22, 2008 at 10:22 a.m.
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outofstate, Rock county did an excellent job in response to this event. Anyone who was up listening to the response on the police frequencies would agree...Snow removal may be an issue, but response to the event was handled well as can be expected from rock counties perspective.. Mojo to Rock County Sherriff department and all who helped!
Feb 22, 2008 at 9:21 a.m.
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Wahoo yes there were people out on the roads who didn't need to be out, but to blame all is absured. How do you know what everyones situation was or reason for being out in the snow storm was at the time? You don't so to sit there on your computer making absured comments is wrong. You cannot tell me that if you were at work and were sent home early that you wouldn't try and get home. Unfortunately not all businesses can close shop and even more unfortunate is having an employer who does not care about their employee's safety and well being and forces their employee's to come to work.
Feb 22, 2008 at 8:24 a.m.
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Maybe if people just watched the weather and used some sense and stay off the roads and wait it out we wouldn't have this problem. Getting stuck out on the highway was their own fault. If anyone is to blame is those themselves.
Feb 22, 2008 at 7:18 a.m.
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I have to agree with the report that the Emergency Management System failed due to underestimating the level of the incident and the inability to communicate effectively during the event. It is certainly apparent that the decision making process was delayed far too long that potentially put the safety of many at risk. Why was the southbound traffic not diverted off the interstate at points north of the incident and then the northbound traffic rerouted via the crossover areas where the patrol officers normally radar traffic??? I know there are several points in the affected area where that process could have been initiated early on during the event. I speak from experience as an independent instructor on disaster managment for FEMA over the last 20 years. People who are in positions of authority must posses the experience and intestinal fortitude to make difficult decisions when warranted. In my opinion, a full emergency management response to this incident was delayed which in turn compounded the magnatude of the incident. This event quickly went from a law enforcement(traffic) issue to a full blown life safety incident. Let us all hope that the emergency response system at the state level is evaluated and that the plan document is revised to allow for immediate decision making in the future.
Feb 21, 2008 at 9:57 p.m.
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I think that it is important to learn what we can from an incident and try to devise ways to improve performance for future, but I also think that the State Patrol, Rock County Sheriff's Department, Rock County Highway Department, and the various other agencies and good samaritans deserve our gratitude for risking their lives to help others in a very difficult situation.
Feb 21, 2008 at 4:10 p.m.
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Isn't it ironic that a report chaired by the Commander of the Wisconsin National Guard suggests the Wisconsin National Guard was flawless in their mission. To suggest that Rock County did a good job is to not live and work in Rock County. The citizens of Rock County all know that this is the worst county for snow removal in southern Wisconsin.
Feb 21, 2008 at 2:18 p.m.
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i guess everyone needs to by babysat that is the way of the world and everybody wants to be treated as if they need to be
Feb 21, 2008 at 1:29 p.m.
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Having been involved in a similar situation near Osseo last year, stuck for 3 hours in 18 inches of snow, I believe that there is another aspect to evaluate. Semi's should not be allowed to pass. This situation as well as last year's were created by side-by-side semi's unable to safely navigate the hill. If one lane were open to cars, I would estimate that 90% of the problem could have been eliminated.
Follow Germany's example. On high use Autobahns trucks are not allowed to pass from 6:00 am until 10:00 pm.
Feb 21, 2008 at 1:07 p.m.
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Excellent suggestions, Dan.
I-94 near Milwaukee has such signs and they provide excellent warning of delays and hazzards ahead.
The State Patrol used to have aircraft, (I dont know if it had helicopters) but those were sold as a result of budget cuts under the Thompson administration. But I think the National Guard is probably the better choice of agencies for rescue missions, anyway, as those are part of its military mission.
Feb 21, 2008 at 12:22 p.m.
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It probably wasn't in this report's scope, but the state should consider whether a statewide interstate electronic signage system is needed. That could have alerted motorists to the seriousness of the problem before they got into it. That hill near Stoughton is probably well within Interstate grade standards but it would be worth investigating whether any engineering there could help. And shouldn't the state patrol have access to a helicopter before the National Guard is called up?
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