ESCANABA — For the safety of the public, law enforcement and governmental bodies are asking drivers not to travel before conditions improve.

Around 9:45 a.m. Monday, the Delta County Road Commission announced that operations were temporarily suspended.

“No one should be on the roads as travel is extremely dangerous,” wrote the Road Commission. “For an emergency situation please call 911 and your call will be directed. Stay safe, remain where you are at and please be patient until this lets up.”

In the City of Escanaba, “several city streets are currently impassable because of heavy snow accumulation and strong winds creating significant snow drifts,”read a press release from the Public Works Department. “Numerous vehicles are currently stuck, which is forcing plow trucks to come to complete stops and reroute because roads and alleyways are blocked.”

As the objective is to make roadways passable as soon as possible — major roads first, with a focus on making sure emergency vehicles can respond to calls — any drivers making journeys that are not strictly necessary risk inhibiting that goal.

At this time, the City of Escanaba’s Public Works Department is operating with eight plow trucks, two graders, and two loaders.

The Schoolcraft County Road Commission said that people should be prepared to be snowed in until Tuesday evening.

“Top priority will be to keep the MDOT highways plowed and open. High traffic volume primary roads will be plowed as much as reasonably possible to keep those roads open. Lower traffic volume primary roads and local roads will likely receive limited plowing and substantially delayed plowing operations,” wrote the Schoolcraft County Road Commission.

In Menominee County, “tow trucks will NOT be responding for vehicles in the ditch, or on secondary roads. Vehicles that are stuck on the main highways will be removed, when possible, to prevent further road hazards,” stated the Menominee County Sheriff’s Office.

“Many roads are once again impassable with drifting and whiteout conditions this morning. We are urging no travel unless it is an emergency to give us a chance to respond to emergent calls until after the storm has passed and the road crews have time to make the roads safe,” wrote the Marinette County Sheriff’s Office.

“The highways are snow- and ice-covered, with some portions impacted by significant drifting. Many secondary roads are impassible,” emphasized the Menominee County Sheriff’s Office. “The plows cannot keep up with this.”