Doyle orders review of response to massive traffic backup
MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Governor Jim Doyle has ordered a review of the emergency response when an interstate traffic backup south of Madison left thousands of motorists stranded for as long as 12 hours, some without food, water or gasoline.
The backup developed on Interstate 39-90 near Stoughton when semitrailer trucks got stuck during Wednesday's storm that dumped more than a foot of snow. Other traffic backed up behind the trucks and had no way to get out.
The Wisconsin State Patrol says it never learned of the problem until about 4 p.m. that afternoon, which was hours after the first drivers became stuck. The governor's office started mobilizing the Wisconsin National Guard Wednesday night after 7 p.m.
By then, some motorists said they had been stranded for hours.
The governor directed the head of the Wisconsin National Guard to review the response.
He says the review should address these three issues: The coordination and communication among agencies and jurisdictions ... the accurate and timely assessment of the situation's severity ... and the timely and effective communication of the situation to the public.
Feb 8, 2008 at 10:57 p.m.
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Don't worry folks Jimmy's on it! Didn't you read..."...he's ordered a review"...HURRAY, that means this will never happen again...right?...or do I put too much faith in Jimmy Boy....jimmaihh! Actually...I'm just being mean, not reallly much the state can do about it. Blizzards can suck, thats one of the wondrous things about Wisconsin, if you don't like the weather...wait 5 minutes (or in this circumstance 12 hours). To the folks that truly had to be out there; or for some reason weren't aware of the coming events (thanks for tuffing it out), for the bone heads that didn't...please eat a smart pill for breakfast tomorrow.
Feb 8, 2008 at 4:53 p.m.
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Here's a brief review for the Governor. It snowed like h_ll. The patrol officers were having coffee and donuts with the snow plow drivers at the nearly empty truck stop, wondering if anyone was out there. Professional truck drivers, who should have known better, were trying to stay on schedule in spite of the weather, and nobody called for help thinking somebody else must have. The governor ought to save the state some money and, if he feels like making an order, order a pizza for himself and his staff while they think up some other good deed to do.
Feb 8, 2008 at 12:07 p.m.
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Having spent 3 hours on I-94 in a whiteout and back up near Blackriver Falls up and reading about the I-90-39 incident.Lets not point our finger at the State Patrol, but at the real cause of these incidents. Semis. Give WSP the authority to order them off the Interstates when these conditions exist
Feb 8, 2008 at 10:58 a.m.
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I'd be willing to bet that probably 90% or more DID NOT have to be and SHOULD NOT have been out.
The other 10% wouldn't have been such a problem to deal with.
Feb 8, 2008 at 10:39 a.m.
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No kidding Clyde. Sounds like you need to get your head out of that dreamworld.
Feb 8, 2008 at 10:27 a.m.
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Not to mention Emergency workers and 911 dispatchers, or tow truck drivers and city crew workers that had no choice but to work, more so on Wednesday than most days. Thanks to all of them we are safe and the Interstate is moving again, even if their response was late!
Feb 8, 2008 at 9:52 a.m.
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Yes, I have to agree! Not everyone has the luxury to stay home in bad weather! My boss made all of us go in! Ridiculous!!!!
Feb 8, 2008 at 7:51 a.m.
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No excuses for work?? Maybe before implying that anyone who was out is an idiot you should consider that not everyone has a generous employer nor a situation that allows them to miss work without consequences. I did travel to and from work that day against my better judgement and then couldn't get out of my own driveway the following day for work. I'm between jobs and am working part time to supplement my unemployment. Now because of this storm and my inability to report for a scheduled shift I not only lose the pay from working but unemployment is punishing me as well by withholding what I would have earned. My guess is the people that were out HAD to be out...not everything is as it may appear.
Feb 8, 2008 at 6:05 a.m.
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They should review when to close I-90/39 down when conditions like those exist. I agree with your comment clyde that NO ONE should have been traveling on there during the height of the storm.
Feb 8, 2008 at 5:22 a.m.
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Fourth issue, assess why someone would travel in such conditions (please no excuses for work)?
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