A Snow Emergency is the term used to indicate the active response plan when a snow storm severely impacts a city, county or town in the United States or Canada. Schools, universities, government offices, airports and public buildings may close during a Snow Emergency. The precise meaning of "snow emergency" varies depending on the issuing municipality. Minneapolis defines a snow emergency as a predefined-duration period of specific parking rules to allow snowplows to move about the entire breadth of every city street. On the other hand, Ohio snow emergencies are declared as one of three levels; each level defines the recommended or mandated actions of the general public due to severe winter weather.
Typically, a Snow Emergency is declared by the mayor or other high official. The declaration is usually issued after the winter storm has impacted a city or county. This is not a product issued by the National Weather Service; however, Winter Storm Warnings, Lake Effect Snow Warnings, Blizzard Warnings, and Winter Weather Advisories are taken into account when declaring a Snow Emergency. Snow emergencies are a common occurrence during the winter snowfall season in the Northern United States. The general public is alerted to Snow Emergency status via local broadcast stations, mass text messaging services, and public address systems.
During life-threatening winter storms, a State of Emergency may be declared for an entire state. This declaration overrules a county issued Snow Emergency.
Read more about Snow Emergency: Example - Ohio Snow Emergency Levels, See Also
Famous quotes containing the words snow and/or emergency:
“Every winter the liquid and trembling surface of the pond, which was so sensitive to every breath, and reflected every light and shadow, becomes solid to the depth of a foot or a foot and a half, so that it will support the heaviest teams, and perchance the snow covers it to an equal depth, and it is not to be distinguished from any level field. Like the marmots in the surrounding hills, it closes its eyelids and becomes dormant for three months or more.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
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