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A winter storm hit Cambridge Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 1 and 2. The 17-1/2-inch snow was accompanied by high winds which created blizzard warnings from noon on Tuesday through noon on Wednesday, Feb. 2.
Cambridge schools were dismissed at 1 p.m. Tuesday and cancelled Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
A fax from the Henry County Sheriff’s Department also stated the Henry County Courthouse was closed at 1 p.m. Tuesday and did not reopen until Thursday, Feb. 3. The Henry County Health Department also closed Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday because of the storm.
At 1:20 p.m. on Tuesday Henry County Sheriff James Padilla strongly advised against traveling anywhere in Henry County because of heavy snow, strong winds and low visibility.
On Wednesday, the sheriff’s office closed all Henry County roads were closed. Snow plows were unable to make it down most of the roads.
Capt. Jeff Happach of the Henry County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday that the roads were closed overnight. By Wednesday noon, most of the roads had at least one lane open, but in some areas the snow still had not been cleared.
Happach said motorists, snowplows and even deputies were stranded when their vehicles were stuck along the county’s rural roads.
One deputy, he said went to help about 20 drivers who were stranded between Andover and Interstate 74, and became stuck himself.
The deputy went from car to car making sure everyone was all right and asked a nearby resident to open up their home as a warming station for the people in the vehicles.
The deputy didn’t make it home until early Wednesday afternoon, Happach said.
“All of the people that were stranded have either been rescued or someone’s on their way to rescue them,” Happach said. “We did everything we could to get to these people.”
Even snowmobilers couldn’t make it through some of the roads, he said. Not because the vehicles couldn’t maneuver through the snow, but because visibility was reduced nearly to zero by the blowing snow.
At one point, Interstates 80 and 74 were closed in Henry County. But by midday Wednesday, Happach said, they had been plowed.
The streets in Cambridge are still a work in progress according to Dwaine VanMeenen, village administrator, Monday, Feb. 7.
“I want to thank everyone (residents and business owners) for their patience and understanding during this storm,” he said. “I also want to thank all of the village employees for their dedication to their job. We have had nothing but favorable comments for the work done by our public works employees.”
A winter storm hit Cambridge Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 1 and 2. The 17-1/2-inch snow was accompanied by high winds which created blizzard warnings from noon on Tuesday through noon on Wednesday, Feb. 2.
Cambridge schools were dismissed at 1 p.m. Tuesday and cancelled Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
A fax from the Henry County Sheriff’s Department also stated the Henry County Courthouse was closed at 1 p.m. Tuesday and did not reopen until Thursday, Feb. 3. The Henry County Health Department also closed Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday because of the storm.
At 1:20 p.m. on Tuesday Henry County Sheriff James Padilla strongly advised against traveling anywhere in Henry County because of heavy snow, strong winds and low visibility.
On Wednesday, the sheriff’s office closed all Henry County roads were closed. Snow plows were unable to make it down most of the roads.
Capt. Jeff Happach of the Henry County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday that the roads were closed overnight. By Wednesday noon, most of the roads had at least one lane open, but in some areas the snow still had not been cleared.
Happach said motorists, snowplows and even deputies were stranded when their vehicles were stuck along the county’s rural roads.
One deputy, he said went to help about 20 drivers who were stranded between Andover and Interstate 74, and became stuck himself.
The deputy went from car to car making sure everyone was all right and asked a nearby resident to open up their home as a warming station for the people in the vehicles.
The deputy didn’t make it home until early Wednesday afternoon, Happach said.
“All of the people that were stranded have either been rescued or someone’s on their way to rescue them,” Happach said. “We did everything we could to get to these people.”
Even snowmobilers couldn’t make it through some of the roads, he said. Not because the vehicles couldn’t maneuver through the snow, but because visibility was reduced nearly to zero by the blowing snow.
At one point, Interstates 80 and 74 were closed in Henry County. But by midday Wednesday, Happach said, they had been plowed.
The streets in Cambridge are still a work in progress according to Dwaine VanMeenen, village administrator, Monday, Feb. 7.
“I want to thank everyone (residents and business owners) for their patience and understanding during this storm,” he said. “I also want to thank all of the village employees for their dedication to their job. We have had nothing but favorable comments for the work done by our public works employees.”
Village employees logged in approximately 70 hours in overtime from Tuesday, Feb. 1, through Sunday, Feb. 6. The Cambridge area got another three-inch snowfall Saturday night, Feb. 5.
“Some of the employees weren’t feeling the best, but still reported to work,” VanMeenen said. “That is the kind of people we have working for the village.”
The village also had some special thank you’s to people who helped clear the streets throughout the village. They were Randy Hepner, Mike Smith, Larry and Brandon Beam and Jeff Hutchinson.
“We also want to thank the Henry County Fair Board for allowing the village to dump snow at the fairgrounds,” he said. “Without this, it would cost the taxpayers more money in snow removal expense.”
On Monday, Feb. 7, village employees were still working to remove large mounds of snow from the downtown area. After the downtown area is cleaned up, village employees will work on making intersections more visible.
VanMeenen said the village was prepared to activate the emergency operating plan if needed and they were in contact with Ameren, the Illinois Red Cross and the Cambridge Fire Protection District and Ambulance Service and the local and Henry County ESDA directors.
“The Fire Protection District building was prepared to become a warming station and did for three or four people who became stranded in the village,” he said. “My hat goes off to anyone who stepped up to help in any way. I know Ben Franklin and Josh Verscheure used four by fours to get around to help those who needed it on Tuesday night. The squad cars were getting stuck. I know there were people on snowmobiles who went and rescued people who were stranded.”
A snowblower had to be used to open up the cemetery for a funeral after the storm.
VanMeenen said he is grateful there were no local fatalities or injuries in this monster of a snow.
Regular pick up schedules resumed this week for garbage and recycling next Wednesday, Feb. 16.
“We appreciate Peterson’s Disposal and Eagle Recycling for delaying pickup last week until Thursday,” he said.
VanMeenen said he wants to remind Cambridge residents there is a snow ordinance.
“It shall be unlawful to park any vehicle on any public street in the village at any time within 12 hours after a snowfall of two inches or more has occurred, unless the snow has been plowed off or otherwise removed from the street,” he said. “The vehicle can be towed at the owner’s expense and owner’s can also be fined.”
On the county level, Steve Brandau, superintendent of the Henry County Highway Department said they had to pull trucks off roads around 6 p.m. Tuesday night.
“You just couldn’t see anything,” Brandau stated. “It was a safety issue for everyone concerned. All highway employees were also asked to spend the night in town so they could make it to work Wednesday morning.”
The trucks were back on the roads at 6 a.m. Wednesday and 90 percent of the roads were open to two lanes before they quit Wednesday night.
“The other 10 percent were opened up Thursday morning,” Brandau stated. “I am very proud of our employees and the wonderful job they did. It wasn’t easy.”
Brandau said employees faced a lot of five to six foot drifts and on some occasion eight foot or taller ones. An endloader was used to open some east-west roads because of the drift size.
“We want to thank everyone for their patience during the storm,” he said. “A lot of people stayed off the roads which in turn helped us get them cleaned off as soon as possible.”
Brandau said the county is still working on figuring up how much overtime was required, but it is significant.
“The emergency services are putting information together hoping Henry County qualifies for some federal assistance with the storm,” he said.
Brandau said the county is still working on the roads, widening them and clearing snow from intersections. He said most of the work will be completed by the end of the week.
Governor Pat Quinn activated more than 500 Illinois National Guard troops Tuesday to assist stranded motorists on several interstate highways.
The troops were stationed at rest areas along interstate highways and coordinated with Illinois State Police (ISP) to ensure the safety of travelers stranded along the roads.
"We must do everything we can to keep motorists safe during this massive winter storm,” said Quinn. “Illinois Department of Transportation crews are working non-stop to clear roadways, and the Illinois State Police will also be closely monitoring our highways."
Troops stationed along the highways will carry supplies such as water, snack bars and roadside safety tips to provide to stranded motorists. Guard members will also relay information regarding road conditions, vehicle accidents and stranded motorists to ISP officers working in the area.
"I'm proud that the Illinois National Guard is able to play our part in responding to this winter storm," said Maj. Gen. William L. Enyart, the Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard. "Our soldiers and Airmen respond to the Governor's call to help in state emergencies just as we answer the President's call to serve overseas. It takes selfless citizens to serve in today's National Guard, whether in Illinois or across the world."
Three days after being activated to assist Illinois for a snow emergency, more than 500 Illinois National Guard soldiers and airmen concluded operations and returned to their families.
According to the National Weather Service, the recent snow storm ranks second in the top five. Jan. 12-14, 1979, still holds the record with 18.4 inches.
