RICHLAND COUNTY, Ohio—County residents are familiar with the issuance of snow emergencies, but what do the three levels mean and who decides how the weather conditions should be classified?
Pursuant to Ohio Attorney General Opinion 86-023, the county sheriff may declare a snow emergency and temporarily close county and township roads within his or her jurisdiction. Attorney General Opinion 97-015 allows the sheriff to close state and municipal roads.
For Richland County, this means that Sheriff Steve Sheldon has the authority to declare snow emergencies.
When determining which classification to use to describe the conditions, he drives throughout the county. However, he noted, “I might be driving around in one of the villages and the roads are clear as can be and then I go to another part of the county and can hardly get by, so it’s really a difficult thing to generalize the conditions throughout the county.”
Before issuing a snow emergency, he said he consults with the Richland County Emergency Management Agency and officers who may be out patrolling the streets.
Below are the three different snow emergency classifications according to the Ohio Committee for Severe Weather Awareness.
Level 1: Roadways are hazardous with blowing and drifting snow. Roads may also be icy. Motorists are urged to drive very cautiously.
Level 2: Roadways are hazardous with blowing and drifting snow. Roads may also be very icy. Only those who feel it is necessary to drive should be out on the roads. Contact your employer to see if you should report to work. Motorists should use extreme caution.
Level 3: All roadways are closed to non-emergency personnel. No one should be driving during these conditions unless it is absolutely necessary to travel or a personal emergency exists. All employees should contact their employer to see if they should report to work. Those traveling on the roads may subject themselves to arrest.
Throughout Sheldon’s 10-year career as sheriff, he said the most severe weather conditions he has encountered were during the ice storm of January 2005. “The ice storm in January of 2005 shut down much of the county,” he said.
He’s yet to have issued a level three snow emergency and hopes he never has to, he said.
“In 22 years that I know of, I think there’s only been a level three put out in this county one time,” he said.
“I might be driving around in one of the villages and the roads are clear as can be, and then I go to another part of the county and can hardly get by, so it’s really a difficult thing to generalize the conditions throughout the county,” said Richland County Sheriff Steve Sheldon.
