Bouquet

From The Daily News:

It’s no secret the people who live in the Upper Peninsula and neighboring northern Wisconsin are resilient, especially during the long winter months.

So it wasn’t exactly a surprise that when faced with what would end up as a record-breaking, two-day winter storm, those who live here had what was needed to make it through safely to the other side.

Blizzard Elsa on Sunday and Monday dropped more than 2 feet to as much as 4 feet of snow in the region, with the eastern side of the U.P. bearing more of the brunt of the storm.

Yet residents knew enough to stock up in advance given the many warnings, then hunkered down as Blizzard Elsa brought its worst Sunday and Monday. People generally heeded the call to shelter in place and stay off the roads, lest they get stuck or worse, or interfere with efforts to keep at least the main routes passable.

Sure, the timing was almost perfect for avoiding the worst effects — a Saturday to stock up, a Sunday start to the snowfall with no school, church services canceled and few expected to make it to work.

That doesn’t diminish residents showing good sense to stay home and off the roads.

When the storm finally gave way to sunny skies Tuesday, everyone got to work. They brought plows, snowblowers and shovels, often taking care not just of themselves but assisting neighbors, too, in digging out paths and vehicles buried under several feet of snow.

Those who clear the roads in our communities shined as well in tackling a storm of this magnitude.

In a Facebook post Tuesday, the city of Kingsford thanked its Department of Public Works crew, noting they had shifts that started at 5 a.m. Sunday and 4 a.m. Monday. A huge snowdrift at the end of Woodward Avenue near Ford Airport was among the most challenging for snow removal.

Kingsford officials also thanked residents for their patience and cooperation, including those who helped keep roadways as open as possible. There was coordination as well between Kingsford Public Safety and DPW workers.

“During medical calls, DPW worked quickly to clear roadways and access points, allowing emergency personnel to safely and efficiently reach residents in need,” city officials said.

The Dickinson County Road Commission had roughly 30 operators and almost as many rigs out early and late, trying to keep up with what Blizzard Elsa threw at them.

Jim Harris, managing director for the DCRC, didn’t just credit his crew and staff for their performance but praised a number of other organizations for joining their efforts during the blizzard:

— Breitung Township, for helping with plowing in Quinnesec and East Kingsford;

— U.P. Truck Center, for providing heavy-duty towing services;

— Local farmers, loggers and contractors, for assisting with snow removal county-wide;

— Bill Neuens Landscaping and Steve Thone Trucking, for providing rentals of heavy equipment; and

— Dickinson County Sheriff Department and dispatch, for coordination and messaging with DCRC throughout the blizzard.

Dickinson County Sheriff Aaron Rochon, in turn, thanked the DCRC and First Responders for being at the ready if an emergency developed, though amazingly his department dealt with no serious incidents during the storm, just motorists sliding off or getting stuck when trying to travel. Even that pretty much tapered off as the blizzard fully set in, he said, and he thanked the public for showing good sense.

This is only a limited listing of how the region drew together to hold its own again Blizzard Elsa. To those uncredited in this battle, know that your efforts are equally appreciated if unseen.

The Upper Peninsula and northern Wisconsin in general should take a bow. In the face of an epic — perhaps generational — winter storm, you rose to the challenge.