Ohio Committee for Severe Weather Awareness
• Battery-powered radio and extra batteries • Flashlight or battery-powered lantern and extra batteries • Blankets or sleeping bags • Booster (jumper) cables • Fire extinguisher (5 pounds, ABC type) • First-aid kit • Bottled water and nonperishable high-energy foods (granola bars, raisins, nuts, peanut butter or cheese crackers) • Road/emergency flares • Compass and road maps • Ice scraper and snow brush • Shovel • Tire repair kit and pump • Extra jackets, hats, gloves, socks • Bag of sand or non-clumping cat litter or rock salt • Tow rope or chain • Cell phone and charger or extra battery
Winterize your vehicle. Get a tune-up to save wear and tear on its battery. Consider buying snow tires or chains for the tires, as your travel dictates. Chains would be best on glare ice.
• Check the radiator for its coolant level and check the sturdiness of hoses and belts. • Refer to the vehicle’s manual to see if a lighter grade of motor oil is recommended for winter driving. • Check and replace all burned out headlights, tail lights and turn signals. • Ensure that each tire’s treads are one-sixteenth inch deep for adequate traction. • Ensure the vehicle’s brakes are in proper working order. • Keep a bottle of window washer fluid in the trunk and ensure wiper blades are in good working order. • Keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow. Poisonous gases filter into your vehicle if the pipe is clogged.
• Pay attention to weather reports on the radio. Allow time in your schedule for bad weather and/or traffic delays. • Become familiar with your vehicle's winter weather operating characteristics. Front-wheel-drive vehicles generally handle better than rear-wheel vehicles on slippery roads because the weight of the engine is on the drive wheels, improving traction. • Keep your windows clear of snow and ice. Remember to clean head, tail and brake lights. • If you need to turn on your wipers, you need to turn on your headlights. • Bridges become slick and icy before roads. Bridge temperatures can be five to six degrees colder than roadways, so drive with extreme caution during freezing temperatures. • Keep your gas tank at least half full. Fill the tank before you park for lengthy periods. This will help prevent fuel line freeze-up. • Leave ample stopping time between you and the driver in front of you. Braking distance can be up to nine times greater on snowy, icy surfaces than on dry roads. • If your vehicle is equipped with an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), be sure to: STOMP - firmly depress the brake pedal. STAY on the brakes - do not pump the brakes. STEER where you want the vehicle to go. • During winter travel, it is best to supply those at your destination with the following information: your cell phone number, departure time, travel route and anticipated arrival time. • If your vehicle locks freeze, heat your key. Do not pour hot water on the locks - they will refreeze.
If you become stranded in your vehicle during a winter storm, it is best to remain inside your vehicle. At most, you will have guaranteed shelter. Other safety tips include:
• Tie a brightly colored cloth to your antenna, driver-side door handle or outside mirror. • Have a charged and ready cell phone to call for help in case you become stranded. • Keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow. Poisonous gases filter into your vehicle if the pipe is clogged. • Run your engine and heater no more than ten minutes every hour. Crack open a window for ventilation when the engine is running. • Light a flare to let people know you're stranded in the vehicle. • Use floor mats, seat covers and blankets for added warmth. If you must leave your vehicle during a blizzard, secure a lifeline of rope or cord to your car to avoid becoming lost or disoriented. • Keep bottled water in the car or melt snow in a coffee can for drinking water. Eating snow will only lower your body temperature. • Remain calm. Chances for rescue are better if you remain calm and in your vehicle.
Attorney General's Opinion No. 97-015
Authority of County Sheriff to Close Roads during Snow Emergencies
The county sheriff may, pursuant to Revised Code 331.07 and Revised Code 311.08, declare a snow emergency and temporarily close the state roads and municipal streets within his jurisdiction when such action is reasonably necessary for the preservation of the public peace. (1986 Op. Attorney General No. 86-023, approved and followed.)
To briefly summarize this opinion, the county sheriff's authority to close county and township roads during a snow emergency was expanded to include closure of state roads and municipal streets. The authority falls generally within a county sheriff's duty to preserve the public peace. The Attorney General's opinion is that there should be no distinction among the different types of roads within each county so long as the circumstances warrant closure during snow emergencies.
Copyright ©2007 - Ohio Committee for Severe Weather Awareness