Initial Blizzard Costs Near $30,000

The blizzard that hit Greenfield and Southeastern Wisconsin earlier this month was an expensive one to recover from.

Preliminary estimates of the storm that dropped nearly 20 inches of snow over a three-day span put the total cost at more than $27,000.

“(The cost) is more than usual,” said Greenfield Fire Chief Russ Spahn, who provided the initial numbers. “Historically, we haven’t had a dump like this for quite some time. I’ve been around a long time; I used to work for the DPW in the late ’70s, and I plowed the streets, but I can’t remember anything like this.”

According to the preliminary estimates, the storm cost nearly $15,000 in labor and $12,300 in equipment. According to Spahn, were able to manipulate staffing to avoid paying overtime.

Spahn said the costs will be covered by funding from the federal government.