After Winter Storm Fern dropped more than 12 inches of snow across much of Northeast Ohio — forcing many schools in Stark County to close Monday and Tuesday — residents turned to social media asking why the Stark County Sheriff’s Office does not issue snow-emergency levels.
Snow-emergency levels have long been used by many Ohio counties as a way to communicate travel conditions during winter storms. The system, which dates back decades, typically includes three levels:
- Level 1, advising drivers to use caution;
- Level 2, restricting travel to essential purposes only; and
- Level 3, which makes nonessential travel illegal and can result in citations or arrest.
Several neighboring counties, including Summit County, continue to operate under the snow-emergency level system, issuing upgrades or downgrades as conditions change.
However, according to the Stark County Sheriff’s Office, the system is no longer practical for Stark County because of wide variations in weather and road conditions across the county.
In a statement provided to Jordan Miller News, sheriff’s office spokesperson Connie Deibel said the agency does not issue countywide snow-emergency levels because conditions can differ dramatically from one area to another.
“The Stark County Sheriff’s Office does not issue countywide snow-emergency levels because weather and road conditions can vary dramatically from one part of the county to another,” Deibel said.
Snowplow priorities further complicate a countywide designation. Deibel said crews focus first on heavily traveled interstates and state routes to keep major traffic corridors open, while township and rural roads — many of which are less traveled — may not be cleared until later in a storm.
“As a result, road conditions across Stark County often differ significantly at any given time,” the statement said.
Because of those differences, the sheriff’s office believes issuing a single snow-emergency level could misrepresent actual conditions for many residents.
“Issuing a single countywide snow-emergency level does not accurately reflect conditions for all residents,” Deibel said.
Instead, the sheriff’s office relies on general weather advisories, travel warnings, and road condition updates from deputies in the field. Officials say this allows schools, employers, and residents to make informed decisions based on the conditions affecting their specific areas.
Residents are also encouraged to contact their employers directly to determine whether they should report to work based on local road conditions.
During Winter Storm Fern, the sheriff’s office shared six public updates, including information from the Ohio Department of Transportation and the National Weather Service, to keep the public informed.
Deibel said it has been about 25 years since the Stark County Sheriff’s Office last issued snow-emergency notifications.
