Schaumburg digs out from blizzard

Schaumburg’s snow removal crews have been at full strength since the blizzard began, and will remain at that level through all of Wednesday.

Nevertheless, blowing snow and poor visibility cut down on crews’ ability to make constant, steady progress throughout the night, Director of Engineering and Public Works Steve Weinstock said.

There has been little competition from other drivers on the road, however, and Weinstock expects motorists will see near-normal conditions restored by Thursday.

Many of the other vehicles that snowplow crews encountered on the roads were abandoned, including one in the driveway of a 7-Eleven and a Lexus in the middle of Schaumburg Road, Weinstock said.

Schaumburg police Sgt. John Nebl said many stranded vehicles, both occupied and abandoned, were encountered by patrol officers during the night. Some were scattered individually throughout the village, while in some areas they were stranded in clumps. Among the places where there were many vehicles were Roselle Road north of Golf and Meacham Road south of Schaumburg Road, Nebl said.

Some stranded motorists were able to report their positions by cell phone and were responded to as quickly as officers could arrive, Nebl said. While the night was definitely out of the ordinary, there were no serious emergencies in which anyone’s life or health was threatened, he said.

For the most part police advise motorists to stay with their vehicles in such situations, Nebl said. However, stranded motorists should also use their own best judgment in making such a decision, particularly if their vehicle has lost heat and they’re starting to freeze, he added.