Blizzard Elsa breaks 100+ year record for most snow

KEWAUNEE COUNTY – Blizzard Elsa struck Northeast Wisconsin last weekend, and it paralyzed the region within hours. The Door Peninsula faced some of the worst of the record-breaking storm, with reports from across Kewaunee County ranging from 20 to 30 inches of accumulated snow. The snowstorm raged from Saturday evening into Monday afternoon, bringing rare winter thunder and lightning with it. Many residents peeked outside to find their vehicles completely buried, with well over a foot of snow accumulating at some doorsteps, leaving some trapped in their homes for days.

The impact was felt across the region, with Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) reporting that more than 11,000 customers lost power as crews battled whiteout conditions and treacherous roads to restore service. Several highways were reduced to a single lane, while multiple vehicles remained stuck along the roads.

Luckily, the community stepped up. Dozens of “good Samaritans” volunteered their equipment and time to dig out neighbors, clearing driveways and sidewalks through the week, while municipal plows worked tirelessly to clear the roads. Most roadways are now open, but the snow kept many trapped in their homes for days after the storm had passed.

At the Kewaunee County Board’s March 17 meeting, County Administrator Jeremy Kral acknowledged the efforts of county staff in responding to the storm.

“I would be remiss to not highlight the outstanding contributions of a lot of our county staff in responding to the snow emergency. With a relatively small team, our highway department staff has been out tirelessly trying to clear the roads keep people safe, and weather wasn’t cooperating and it’s really been an overwhelming situation, but for a generational snowstorm, roads are passable now and by and large, and we just really need to give our sincere thanks to the folks out clearing the roads,” he said.

“We had Sheriff’s Department team members not leaving the jail between shifts and sleeping over so that they knew that there would be somebody there to be able to staff and provide care for inmates and dispatch and those folks, their dedication and commitment to service needs to be honored and noted. In addition to those two departments, we also had park staff working tirelessly and braving some treacherous travel to ensure that the zoo was well taken care of and our animals were safe,” Kral said.

Kewaunee County residents also made a difference, pitching in to help each other. Algoma local Liam Hedrington was one of the neighbors who stepped up and offered his time and equipment to those still trapped inside or otherwise unable to clear their driveways and sidewalks.

“This storm was the biggest on record,” Hedrington said. “Snow crews worked hard and are still cleaning up from the storm. This storm tested my friend Nolan Cochart and my limits, as well as our equipment. We now know that a situation like this requires all of us to get together and help each other out. Nolan and I are still willing to help clear people’s driveways.”

Jon Ullmann also stepped up, helping dozens of people.

“I want to say over 30 [people helped]. I stopped counting after 10,” Ullmann said. “It was just a very big storm and a lot of people don’t have access to a skid steer or heavy equipment. I just tried to help out. I also did a good few for free. I do pay what you can. I’ll show up and do it free. If they like to leave a tip, that works for me.”

While the storm brought the county to a halt, it didn’t stop neighbors from looking out for each other. Blizzard Elsa leaves behind a memory of record-breaking snow and unwavering community support.