Waupaca one of hardest hit areas during snow storm

WAUPACA, Wis. (WFRV) Reported by: Heather Sawaski – Crews vowed to work through the night Wednesday to try and restore power to everyone in the Waupaca-area. Slowly but surely, the lights were coming back on.

It was all smiles from customers at the Mobile Truck Stop off Highway 10 late Wednesday afternoon. But just minutes earlier, everyone was in the dark. The 24-hour restaurant was without power for more than four hours. But that didn’t mean the owners closed up shop.

“We’ve prided ourselves for the last 37 years of staying open and giving travelers a place to stop and gain their wits,” Manager Steve Klismet explained.

They weren’t able to cook or sell food, but employees manned the gas station next door and handed out snacks and bottled drinks.

“We pulled our service trucks up and shined our lights in the building so we could see what’s going on,” said Klismit. “And people could see there was activity going. So people were pulling in off the road.”

The rest of the city didn’t escape Mother Nature. At one time, WPS reported more than 6,000 Waupaca-area customers without power.

“I like snow but this one is just too wet and heavy to shovel,” commented resident Julie Baron.

The Red Cross set up an emergency shelter at the middle school for anyone needing food or a warm place to sleep.

“Just so people know we’re here,” said Red Cross Volunteer Andrew Stanislawski. “They’re welcome to come and we’ll do whatever we can.”

Stanislawski said they’ll be there to help until the first winter mess of the season is cleared.

“We were ready for the long haul but it worked out good for us,” Steve Klismit added.

“Follow” or “Friend” Red Cross for the Latest Safety Tips

The American Red Cross Lakeland Chapter is using twitter and facebook as another way to communicate to the public safety tips and updates on our programs and services.

To “follow” Jody Weyers, Volunteer and Communcations director for the American Red Cross Lakeland Chapter searc h for “jweyers2” on twitter.

“Friend” the Lakeland Chapter on Facebook, search for “Red Cross Lakeland Chapter”

Check out the following news story on WBAY on how social media is playing a role in updating information regarding the winter storms.  Click here for news story.

Text version of story:

Snow Storm has Organizations All A-Twitter

By Kristin Byrne

Police departments, schools, and businesses in our area are turning to the Internet to keep the public prepared and safe during this snow storm.

The “tweets” on Twitter are all about this blizzard hitting Northeast Wisconsin.

UW-Fox Valley is telling students what to do if classes are canceled. Fond du Lac police are tweeting followers about what kind of weather to expect.

Law enforcement agencies credit social networking sites for keeping the public safe during a snow storm.

“We’ll give updates as we get them, and we’ll give safety tips — the usual ones for every year: Slow down; plan ahead; take some extra time, you know; if you don’t have to go out, don’t; stay home,” Lieutenant Jim Runge, Green Bay Police Department, said.

Organizations like the American Red Cross are updating social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, too.

The Red Cross Lakeland Chapter says it tweeted several times Tuesday. One reminded people to keep a blanket, a supply kit with snacks, and a shovel in your car during a snow storm.

“This is another tool we can utilize that people can read it and those who are following my account can repost it or retweet it to other individuals for those winter safety tips,” Jody Weyers of the Red Cross said.

Postings that can be pretty useful when you’re dealing with a monster of a storm.