The Door County Sheriff's Department asked motorists to at least slow down on area roadways after 7 p.m. on Wednesday. At that time, the Door County Highway Department's plows were expected to take a few hours off before resuming snow removal operations in the early morning hours. Door County Connect/Door2Door Services canceled its services for Thursday to keep its drivers safe, eliminating one transportation option for those who might need to get out but can't on their own. As for other modes of transportation, the Washington Island Ferry is running its same schedule on Thursday as of 5:30 a.m., but Austin Straubel Airport in Green Bay has nixed all of its flights for the day.
All eight school districts and Northeast Wisconsin Technical College canceled classes by 8 p.m. on Wednesday night, with some calling it off shortly after 1 p.m. The one exception is Washington Island School, where the middle and high school students will attend classes virtually while the elementary school children will have the day off. UW-Green Bay students are also scheduled to attend classes virtually on Thursday. Many area non-profits, churches, and businesses have also called off operations for the day due to the snow. You can visit our cancellations page for more information. If you have additional cancellations and closures, please call our Newsline at 920-746-9758 or email us at news@doorcountydailynews.com.
With several inches of snow still on the way, the attention could turn to your home. Spectrum has been warning customers since Tuesday that the high winds and snowfall totals could cause outages in their services. Wisconsin Public Service is also keeping an eye on the weather and potential outages in the area. High wind and snowfall totals could also block heating vents on the side of your home, increasing the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning if you do not keep an eye on it.
FROM GOVERNOR EVERS' OFFICE
Gov. Tony Evers today signed Executive Order #186 declaring an energy emergency in the state of Wisconsin. The intense winter storm currently moving across the state is bringing snow, sleet, and freezing rain that could result in widespread power outages from downed trees and ice on power lines and conditions that make travel difficult or dangerous. Executive Order #186 will provide waivers from federal and state requirements to give additional flexibility to in-state utility workers and allow for out-of-state utility workers to come to Wisconsin to help restore power.
“During and after a winter storm, restoration of power is critically important to the safety and well-being of folks across our state. As we continue to deal with the challenges of severe winter weather and its impact on everyday necessities, the health, welfare, and safety of our neighbors remains our top priority,” said Gov. Evers. “This executive order will allow for a more swift and efficient restoration of any electric power outages throughout the state.”
Executive Order #186 waives hours of service, certain driver qualifications, and International Fuel Tax Agreements and International Registration Plan requirements for utility workers.
