Snow stops, clean-up continues in Richland County

MANSFIELD — The worst of the recent winter storm is likely over, the Richland County Emergency Management Agency confirmed Monday morning. 

Still, EMA director, Rick Evans encouraged people to be cautious as temperatures remain low into Tuesday and the clean up process continues.

“The roads are still snow-covered and slick. They need to warm up,” Evans said. “The road crews are doing a pretty good job. They scrape them (the roads) down as far as they can go, and I’m sure they’ll be putting out salt to help.” 

This past weekend’s winter storm dumped at least eight inches of snow on Richland County between Saturday and Sunday, which culminated in a Level 2 snow emergency in Richland and Ashland Counties and a Level 3 snow emergency in Crawford County. All three remained under a Level 1 emergency Monday morning at 10:30 a.m. 

At this level, people are advised to drive very cautiously. Roadways are still considered hazardous because of blowing and drifting snow and may be icy. 

“Be mindful if you have to go out, dress warmly,” Evans said. “And go slow, take it easy. Some of the roads are still covered.” 

Evans said his office received multiple reports of vehicles off the road over the weekend, and some accidents were reported Monday morning, too.  

Monday’s high is expected to be near 10 degrees. Tonight the low could be around -2 with wind chill values as low as -12, according to the National Weather Service. 

Wind chill will still be a factor in the early Tuesday morning hours, possibly as low as -10, but later in the day the high temperature could reach 30. The weather is expected to warm significantly Wednesday, when rain is forecast, the National Weather Service is reporting.

“We’ve been in contact with the National Weather Service all weekend long, and been trying to broadcast all that,” Evans said. “I’ll be calling them again today.”

He expects Richland County will remain under a Level 1 snow emergency for “at least a while longer because of the road conditions,” and intends to keep in touch with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department for that status.

The EMA opened a warming shelter Sunday at the Community Service building, 39 N. Park St., home of the Mansfield office of the American Red Cross. It remained open through 8 a.m. Monday.

Whether or not another would be open Monday evening hasn’t yet been determined. If so, the information will be shared and posted to Richland Source.