There shall be two classifications of transportation or snow emergencies which may be declared by the Commissioners to control highway use.
(A) Travel watch: essential travel permitted.
(1) This classification is determined by the Commissioners to be a significant emergency event. Roadways have, or are expected to have, significant accumulations of ice, freezing rain, sleet, snow or significant blowing and drifting snow or high water covering large areas of roadways to a dangerous depth or numerous trees, limbs, utility poles and/or power lines or other damage debris reported on roadways. Roadways or major sections of the roadway network are closed or impassible. Travel may be significantly delayed and there exists a risk of injury to motorists exposed to the existing conditions.
(2) Only essential travel is permitted. Essential travel shall include travel to and from work; travel to obtain essential medical care or required prescription medications; travel to obtain essential supplies of food, fuel or safe shelter and travel of emergency vehicles and emergency workers engaged in emergency operations. All non-essential travel is prohibited. Vehicle operators shall exercise all due caution in the operation of motor vehicles.
(B) Travel warning: travel prohibited.
(1) This classification is determined by the Commissioners to be a crippling emergency event. Roadways have, or are expected to have, heavy accumulations of ice, freezing rain, sleet, or snow or heavy blowing and drifting of snow or blizzard conditions; very high water covering or closing large areas of roadways or washouts or of road surface, road bed, culverts, bridge approaches or bridges or widespread trees, limbs, utility poles and/or power lines or other damage debris are reported on roadways. The major portions of the roadway network is are closed or impassable. Conditions make it impossible to safely operate roadway maintenance equipment. Travel exposes motorists to significant risk of injury or death.
(2) All roadways are closed to non-emergency vehicles and personnel. Travel is prohibited to all persons with the exception of the following who are at the time engaged in necessary emergency or critical occupations operations:
(a) Emergency personnel including 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.
(b) Critical occupations personnel including employees of railroad companies, utility companies, highway departments, towing and wrecker services, fuel delivery suppliers, news media and hospital and healthcare organizations.
(Ord. 2011-24-CM, passed 10-17-11)