Plows, Repair Shops Overwhelmed After Historic Winter Storm

Cleanup efforts continue more than 24 hours after the last snowflakes fell in Wisconsin's Fox Valley region.

Mar. 18, 2026 at 4:52am

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The Outagamie County Highway Department is working around the clock to clear roads after a major winter storm dumped heavy, wet snow across the region. Local repair shops are also inundated with calls from residents needing snowblowers fixed. The sheriff's department has responded to hundreds of disabled vehicle calls and over 50 crashes since the storm hit.

Why it matters

This historic winter storm has caused significant disruption and damage across the Fox Valley, underscoring the need for robust emergency response and infrastructure to handle extreme weather events. The strain on local government services and private businesses highlights the community-wide impact of such storms.

The details

Plow drivers are prioritizing the busiest roads, with many now down to bare pavement. However, tall snow banks continue to bury mailboxes and even cars in some neighborhoods. The heavy, wet snow has also taken a toll on snow clearing equipment, leading to a surge in repair requests. Mechanics are advising residents to take it slow and use lower gears when operating snowblowers.

  • The last snowflakes fell more than 24 hours ago.
  • By Tuesday evening, many roads in Outagamie County were down to bare pavement.
  • On Tuesday afternoon, Local 5 News noticed significant improvement on roads that had been almost impassable on Monday.

The players

Adam Duchow

Outagamie County Highway Department patrol superintendent, who is overseeing the cleanup efforts.

Jake Pleshek

A mechanic at Pleshek's Outdoor Power in Kaukauna, who has been inundated with calls from residents needing their snowblowers repaired.

Outagamie County Sheriff's Department

The department has responded to nearly 500 disabled vehicle calls and over 50 crashes since the storm hit.

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What they’re saying

“Be patient with us we're doing the best we can. This is probably the biggest storm in most of our careers here.”

— Adam Duchow, Outagamie County Highway Department patrol superintendent

“Monday I got in here to 40 missed calls, 15 messages on the machine and people have been calling ever since.”

— Jake Pleshek, Mechanic

“Take it slow, take small bites of the snow, drop it down to first gear if you have it.”

— Jake Pleshek, Mechanic

What’s next

The Outagamie County Highway Department hopes to have all local roads at least widened and opened up, mostly to two lanes, by the end of Tuesday.

The takeaway

This historic winter storm has placed a significant strain on local government services and private businesses in the Fox Valley region, underscoring the need for robust emergency response and infrastructure to handle extreme weather events. The community-wide impact of such storms highlights the importance of preparedness and resilience in the face of unpredictable weather patterns.