(A) (1) The Commissioners may declare a Level I hazardous transportation emergency for some or all roadways when in their judgment, current or expected conditions, including without limitation the presence of fires, floods, utility failures, major accidents, public health emergencies, thunderstorms, acts of terrorism, tornado and snow storms, ice, freezing rain, sleet, high water or debris, constitute a crippling emergency event causing a significant risk of injury or death to motorists, roadway maintenance, emergency or critical operations personnel.
(2) By way of example, such conditions may include:
(a) Roadways which have or are expected to have heavy accumulations of ice, freezing rain, sleet or snow;
(b) Roadways which have or are expected to have heavy blowing or drifting of snow or blizzard conditions;
(c) Very high waters that covers or closes large areas of roadways;
(d) Washouts of large areas of road surfaces, road beds, culverts, bridge approaches or bridges;
(e) Widespread presence of trees, limbs, utility poles, power lines and/or other damage or debris on the roadways;
(f) Major portions of the roadway network are closed or impassible; and/or
(g) Conditions which make safe operation of roadway maintenance equipment impossible.
(B) (1) In the event a Level I hazardous transportation emergency is declared, travel is prohibited and the roadways are closed, except as to emergency personnel and critical occupations personnel while engaged in necessary emergency or critical occupations operations.
(2) As used in this division (B), EMERGENCY PERSONNEL included rostered members of law enforcement agencies, fire departments, emergency medical service providers, search and rescue organizations, rescue squads, military organizations, disaster relief organizations, emergency management personnel and requested mutual aid personnel.
(3) As used in this division (B), CRITICAL OCCUPATIONS PERSONNEL includes employees of railroad companies, utility companies, highway department, towing and wrecker services, fuel delivery suppliers, news media, and hospital and healthcare organizations.
(C) Upon issuance of a Level I hazardous transportation emergency under this section, the Commissioners shall cause the Level I hazardous transportation emergency to be broadcast by means of radio stations broadcasting in the county, on the county website and may also be communicated by means of newspapers or other means the officials deem effective.
(D) The Commissioners shall terminate the Level I hazardous transportation emergency when the conditions giving rise to the abatement of the Level I hazardous transportation emergency. Termination of the Level I hazardous transportation emergency shall be communicated by the means used to communicate the original Level I hazardous transportation emergency.
(BC Ord. 2009-10, passed 7-20-2009) Penalty, see § 70.99