BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The snow is here. And while there’s been some unpredictability with what this first winter storm of the season might bring, you can always count on people making last minute preparations ahead of the first major snowfall.
At Kimps Ace Hardware of Ashwaubenon, shoppers were on the hunt for the essentials Wednesday evening.
“We’re picking up a snow brush and some scrapers for the car,” said Joshua Jones of Suamico.
“And possibly a sled,” said Wyatt Jones.
Perhaps even more essential, Ace cleared out all the snow blowers people brought in for tune-ups — just in time for the annual rush of people who look to buy one after the first major storm.
“Especially this one is going to be wet and heavy,” said Clint Kimps of Kimps Ace Hardware. “You see a lot of people that turn from shovels to snow blowers after a snow like that.”
On a larger scale, Brown County road crews have been as ready as they can be.
“These are the exact kind of storms that are hardest to advise people on what to prepare for,” said Paul Fontecchio, Brown County Highway Commissioner. “All you can say is ‘Look, if you can stay home, stay home.’”
Fontecchio says a few degrees will make a major difference in how his crew will have to attack cleanup. About half his drivers were planning to start at about 8 p.m. Wednesday with the other half coming in at 3 a.m. on Thursday.
Fontecchio says the expected quick pace of snowfall could be the biggest challenge.
“It takes our plows two hours to get around our routes, so by the time they get back to that exact spot, you could have a couple inches of snow on the road. That is where you fall behind because it’s just impossible to keep up when it’s doing that all over the county.”
While the snow is expected to keep people busy, it of course should come with at least one welcome caveat for most.
“A white Christmas is better than a green Christmas,” said Wyatt Jones.
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