Stay Home & Stay Off The Roads, If Possible

Law enforcement agencies around the area are encouraging people to stay off the roads and stay home as we deal with dangerously cold temperatures and the continued threat for blowing snow and black ice.

In Fond du Lac County, sheriff’s deputies responded to five runoffs and three crashes during second shift on Tuesday and another four runoffs on third shift. County emergency management says travel is not recommended unless it’s absolutely necessary, and encourages people who must travel to be prepared with an emergency kit in your car should you become stranded. County Communications and Emergency Management Director Bobbi Hicken says “In normal situations, if your vehicle stalled or you went into the ditch, it wouldn’t necessarily be considered an emergency. In these extreme temperatures, being stuck outside for any amount of time is an emergency and you should call 9-1-1 right away.”

In Dodge County, Sheriff Dale Schmidt echoed the call to stay off the roads and stay indoors if possible. Schmidt says highway crews in the county will be focusing on keeping US and State Highways clear and that less traveled highways will likely not be plowed and may drift shut as a result of high winds and blowing snow. He warns that some roads may not be cleared out until weather conditions improve.

In Winnebago County, the sheriff’s office dealt with several crashes on Interstate 41 southbound on the Lake Butte Des Morts causeway due to blowing snow. Sheriff’s officials say the area has always been problematic when winds increase, and it often takes drivers by surprise. The Wisconsin DOT has overhead message boards warning of the icy conditions, but the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office says drivers need to pay attention to those warnings as they approach the area.