ASHLAND — At around 3 a.m. today, Sheriff E. Wayne Risner was up talking with dispatch and his enforcement sergeant. They told him the roads were covered in snow and ice, and snow was being blown around by high winds.
So at 3:20 a.m., he issued a Level 2 snow emergency, meaning that only those that feel it is necessary should be out on the roads.
Since then, he has spoken with his dispatcher “five or six times” but conditions have not changed enough to change the emergency level, he said.
“The difference between now and earlier is that before 9 o’clock this morning it was snowing. And I think most of the snow has stopped and it’s still a lot of blowing snow (which) is more of an issue if it keeps doing like its doing right now,” he said.
The emergency level will change when roads become more passable after township, city, and county crews have had some time to work on the roads, he added.
There have only been a handful of minor traffic accidents so far, which Risner attributed to most people staying home.
“I think most folks have had a lot of warning about this storm coming and I think most of the folks in this community and around have planned for the weather,” he said.
“I think a big deal right which is keeping people in more than anything else is the wind and the cold. It’s just a heck of a lot colder than it normally is over a long period of time right now.”
Currently, the Sheriff’s office is monitoring local power outages and working to extinguish a structure fire near Bailey Lakes, he added.
