All Hands On Deck In Shorewood As Significant Winter Storm Rolls In

SHOREWOOD, IL — Like with any on-coming winter weather event, Noriel Noriega knows that it’s best to be prepared ahead of time.

Noriega, the Village of Shorewood’s director of public works, has — like others in his role — kept an eye on the forecast as a significant weather storm is approaching the region beginning on Thursday. As of Wednesday, Noriega and his crews of public works employees are prepping for a multi-day weather event that could bring heavy snow, plunging temperatures, and conditions that could, at times, be considered dangerous.

Noriega said on Wednesday that the Department of Public Works has already begun anti-icing procedures as temperatures are expected to fall overnight and into Thursday when the snow is scheduled to begin falling. As of Wednesday, he is expecting to have to deal with anywhere between 2-8 inches of snow between Thursday and Friday but knows that can change.

While the department takes an “all hands on deck” approach to its work, Noriega said that his crew is split to ensure that the village can provide round-the-clock service for snow removal and other services to keep local residents safe.

The village’s snow removal fleet includes about 25 pieces of equipment ranging from plow trucks to snowblowers to other tools that help Noriega’s department cope with winter storms like the one that is expected.

The village also has an ordinance in place that requires residents to keep from parking on local streets at times when there are at least 2 inches of snow on the ground. Parked vehicles can prove to be an obstacle for plows and keeps the village from providing services at the level residents expect.

Noriega also asks residents to be courteous to their neighbors by keeping their sidewalks shoveled. However, he said it is important for residents not to shovel snow back into local streets after they have been plowed as a safety measure to keep local drivers safe.

Local residents are also reminded that local warming centers are available as temperatures and windchills are expected to plummet beginning on Thursday.

The National Weather Service is forecasting that temperatures will plummet 20-30 degrees in a matter of 2-3 hours on Thursday when the winter storm is expected to hit the region. Wind gusts up to 55 mph could cause power outages and “dangerous and life-threatening” cold temperatures are expected to settle into the area through Christmas Day.

The arctic blast is expected to drop wind chills to as low as 30 degrees below zero, which could last throughout the weekend, forecasters said.

Warming centers can be found at the following locations:

• Shorewood Police Department, 903 W. Jefferson St. (815) 725-1460 (Daily 24/7)
• Shorewood Village Hall, 903 W. Jefferson St. (815) 725-1460 (By request only)
• Troy Township Community Center, 25448 Seil Rd. (708) 744-1968 (By request only)