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Officials promise improved response to snowstorm emergencies

JANESVILLE — After February’s blizzard, emergency responders were criticized for the way they handled the crisis.

Tales of motorists stranded overnight on Interstate 90/39 without food, water or medical supplies embarrassed officials.

And flaws in the way agencies handled the incident were highlighted in a well-publicized report.

The incident served as a wake-up call, officials said, and they hope changes implemented this year will prevent it from happening again.

“I think all of last year was an unusual event—the snow, the flooding and everything,” said Doug Dembowski, state traffic operations supervisor. “I think it was a lesson learned for all of us.”

Six cameras have been installed along the Interstate in Rock County. Drivers soon will be able to look at pictures online to check road conditions, Dembowski said.

A new 511 phone line and Web site will be launched soon to allow motorists to check road, traffic and weather information, he said.

And retractable gates have been installed at every on ramp along the Interstate from Madison to the Wisconsin-Illinois border. The gates will be used to close the Interstate if needed, Dembowski said.

Law enforcement, state, county and other agencies also have met to discuss response plans for weather-related events, Rock County Sheriff’s Cmdr. Troy Knudson said.

The agencies plan on improving their lines of communication, he said.

“I do believe that our response is going to be much different from last year,” Knudson said. “That incident on the Interstate last year really highlighted the need to work cooperatively and efficiently.”

Cooperation will be seen on various levels, he said.

For example, he said:

-- Agencies will talk and be on the same page when it comes to emergency responses.

-- Law enforcement agencies will put extra patrol cars on the road during incidents.

-- Media outlets will be notified about weather-related events to quickly disseminate information to the public.

-- Snowmobiling clubs will be called to get food, supplies or help to stranded drivers.

-- The owners of electronic billboards have pledged to put information on their signs.

“We have decided to take a much more proactive response,” Knudson said.

Plowing and salting the Interstate will remain a priority, said Ben Coopman, Rock County public works director. Workers provide 24-hour service on the Interstate.

Despite the changes, drivers need to make smart decisions about driving in winter weather.

“If you can stay home, stay home,” Coopman said. “There were people who didn’t believe the warnings and went out there when they really didn’t have to.”

And maybe Mother Nature will be kinder this year.

“When you have that amount of snow coming in that amount of time, that is quite an obstacle,” Knudson said.