Sheriff Lutz explains a level 3 snow emergency

ZANESVILLE, Ohio- The snow has steadily been falling leaving many schools and businesses closed or delayed. Now many are wondering what constitutes as a level three snow emergency.

There are three levels of snow emergency the Sheriff’s Office can declare. The first level is when there is blowing and drifting snow that make the roads hazardous. It’s also when roads may be icy. A level two is the same as level one, but the roads are icier and motorist should only drive if necessary. Sheriff Matt Lutz said a level three is when no one should be driving in the snow conditions.

“The level 3 is basically an emergency situation where the roads are basically closed to everyone but emergency personnel. I think, I would have to do some…a lot of history checking, but I think I’ve only once or twice in my career as Sheriff,” said Lutz.

Lutz said he stays in contacts with the road supervisor on shift and his deputies to see how they’re doing on the roads. He also talks to the county engineer, county highway, and ODOT to keep tabs on the roads. If all of the parties believe the roads are too bad for citizens a level three will be declared.

“A lot of the Sheriff’s in the state of Ohio refrain from going to a level 3 unless it gets into your community where things are really bad,” said Lutz. “And so if we get to a point where roads are impassable and we think it’s just not safe for folks to be out on the streets we will go to that.”

Once that happens no one is allowed on the roads except for emergency personnel. And there are consequences for being on the road during a level three snow emergency with the most extreme being an arrest.

“If you are out with no really valid reason to be out then you could get a ticket for that,” said Lutz. “If somebody has to leave for an emergency, it depends on what it is, we would rather you call in and ask for a squad and or something like that.”

Lutz said for any snow emergency you should try to stay off the roads if possible to allow the plow trucks and crews time and space to treat the roads.