Saturday, February 05, 2011
 
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Blizzard cleanup ends; recovery dollars sought

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[February 05, 2011]  SPRINGFIELD -- More than 2,800 of the state's snowplow drivers clocked in upwards of 14,000 hours of overtime to clear snow-covered roads during this week's blizzard.

But the work doesn't stop there. The recovery effort begins now, said Joseph Klinger, interim director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

Individual counties may seek federal assistance for the snow emergency, but they must meet three requirements, Klinger said. Counties must first meet "near record snowfall," defined as 10 percent of the record, he said.

"Our preliminary data indicates a large portion of the northern half of Illinois may actually meet that threshold, but those numbers must be confirmed by the National Weather Service later this month," Klinger said.

In addition, the state must reach $16.1 million in eligible costs related to snow removal, which includes mobilizing the National Guard and equipment fees, he said.


Each county that qualifies must also meet a $3.27 per capita threshold for snow removal during the 48-hour period, he said.

"We have successfully confronted what the National Weather Service called a 'life-threatening blizzard of historic proportions,'" Klinger said.

Gov. Pat Quinn on Friday described the blizzard as a "weather emergency," praising efforts by state troops, police and state agencies to assist more than 4,000 drivers during the storm.

The governor issued a disaster declaration late Monday before the snowstorm dumped between 11 to 20 inches of snow across the state early Tuesday through midday Wednesday.

The blizzard shut down state government offices, closed schools and limited access to roads across the state earlier this week. State operations resumed Thursday.

Quinn called to duty more than 500 Illinois National Guard troops to assist the Illinois State Police with attempts to dig out more than 200 snowed-in drivers statewide.

Other state agencies, including the Illinois Department of Transportation, combined their efforts with police and troops to rescue more than 4,000 stranded drivers, according to a statement from the governor's office.

About 1,629 IDOT snowplow trucks cleared 16,500 miles of highway during the winter storm, according to a news release. But IDOT snowplows had trouble clearing snow-covered roads due to snowdrifts and stranded drivers.

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In an effort to improve road conditions, several stretches of interstates were temporarily closed on Wednesday. Drivers had limited access to Interstate 74 between Galesburg and Peoria, Interstate 39 between Bloomington and Rockford, and all of Interstate 155, according to the National Weather Service.

"Most routes are clear now of snow and ice," said Christine Reed, IDOT's director of highways and chief engineer. "We will continue the cleanup efforts and will not rest until the state's transportation system is as safe as possible for the motoring public."

Reed reminds motorists to continue to drive with caution.

"A snowplow operator's view is limited and constrained, so please don't crowd the plow," Reed said. "In addition, as you drive, please remember: ice and snow, take it slow. "

[Illinois Statehouse News; By DIANE S.W. LEE]

 

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