According to an opinion
by the Ohio Attorney General, the Sheriff of a county may declare
a snow emergency and temporarily close county and township roads.
This is usually done after conferring with the County Engineer
and the local Emergency Management Agency when weather conditions
have reached emergency proportions. Township trustees and the
Ohio Department of Transportation may also be consulted.
There are three levels
of snow emergency classifications:
LEVEL 1: Roadways are hazardous with
blowing and drifting snow. Roads may also be icy. Drive very
cautiously.
LEVEL 2: Roadways are hazardous with
blowing and drifting snow. 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.
LEVEL 3: All roadways are closed to
non-emergency personnel. No one should be out 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.
The media is immediately
notified by the Sheriff whenever a snow emergency is declared.
Motorists are encouraged to monitor the Butler County Sheriff's web site or local
media outlets for initial notifications plus any changes in the
designated level of the snow emergency.
Remember, it is impossible
to know the condition of every road in the County. These are
only guidelines for the majority of roads. For example, if the
advisory level is set at 1, there may be secondary roads that
have deteriorated to a level 2 or even a level 3 condition. If
snow is present, a good rule of thumb is to always presume that
the road ahead is worse than the stretch of road you are currently
on.
Drive safely and use
caution in all winter weather situations.
