CHADRON -- With snow fall estimated at two feet in the Chadron area this week, clearing the streets took a community effort.

"It's been quite a storm," said Jack Arterburn.

Arterburn is a member of the Chadron Volunteer Fire Department (CVFD). He said the strength of the storm required creative responses. He operated a snowplow while Chadron Volunteer Fire Department volunteers used their personal skid steers and plows, and ran city plows and payloaders, to clear the fire department, police station, and hospital. They also assisted with clearing snow from main routes and side streets, and helping police pulling out stuck motorists.

"We had our rigs running constantly and couldn't keep up," Arterburn said.

He said firefighters, and other volunteers, worked through the night several times in the snow removal effort. The challenge in Chadron, as in places south to Sidney, is the high winds, estimated to exceed 50 mph gusts, backfilled progress made by the street crews and volunteers.

Arterburn said there was a report of a family stranded on the highway several miles south of Chadron "on the table." He said CVFD Chief Branden Martens found out about it and put together a rescue plan. A farmer with a four-wheel-drive tractor went to the site, but couldn't make it all the way. The family had to walk to the tractor, all of the family fitting into the cab for the ride to safety.

"When it comes to CVFD, emergency services, we just have a really solid group," Arterburn said. "It's pretty amazing what we get done."

The storm started arriving in Chadron Monday afternoon, stranding motorists at hotels through much of the week. Travelers began moving on the roads Saturday as interstates and highways began to reopen. 

CVFD volunteers also helped with transporting hospital staff to and from work, repaired snow removal equipment, and got medication to stuck motorists.