Snow emergencies, school closures, weather pics and more    

Channel3000.com and News 3 have up-to-the-minute closures and weather advisory information for area communities.

Find:

• The weather announcements page will be updated as notices happen, including area event closures and snow emergency declarations by municipality
• School closure listing (which clears daily at 10 a.m.)
• Live snowstorm blog and photos

Bus advocates group says Madison needs a snow emergency bus service

The Madison Area Bus Advocates, a non-profit group comprised of citizens who describe themselves as “pro-bus,” said Madison Metro’s service shutdown during a snowstorm Dec. 21 highlights the need for a busing plan in snow emergencies.

The president and vice president of the advocacy organization -- Susan De Vos and Michael Barrett -- shared their thoughts on the need for emergency service for bus patrons during Southern Wisconsin’s frequently travel-adverse winter weather.

De Vos and Barrett said Madison’s Metro Transit needs a skeletal snow emergency plan:

Our winters are harsh; we can have excessive snowfalls, and conditions are not always amenable to a "business as usual" format. So despite all our technology, there are simply times when we need a contingency plan, as during the recent blizzard of Thursday, Dec. 20.