County preps for storm

Mercer and Auglaize counties are in a winter storm watch effective Wednesday morning through Friday morning, according to the Wilmington office of the National Weather Service, as a foot of snow and a quarter inch of ice are forecast.

Officials are encouraging residents to stay home if possible.

"Be proactive now and get travel/trips done now if not time sensitive and be prepared if there are power outages," said Mercer County Engineer James Wiechart on Monday.

Residents should be prepared for the inability to get out for several days, Wiechart said, adding the storm will be a long-duration event.

As of 7 p.m. Monday, the Wilmington office of the National Weather Service predicted 8-12 inches of snow and one-tenth to a quarter inch an inch of ice accumulation for both counties. Power outages and tree damage are likely due to ice, and travel could be nearly impossible, according to the Wilmington office.

Wiechart and county engineer operations manager Brad Laffin said the engineer's office has 13 full-time snow plow routes which cover 30 miles of roadway per route.

Laffin said the department also has three back-up vehicles ready and two older trucks which could also be used if necessary.

The county traditionally does not pre-treat roads, Laffin said, and pre-treatment is usually something the Ohio Department of Transportation takes care of.

However, pre-treatment of roads may not be possible, according to ODOT public information officer Tiffany Oliphant. A combination of snow, sleet, rain and freezing rain is predicted, depending on location, Oliphant said, so the pre-treatment could be washed away if it rains before it snows.

Oliphant said once the snow comes, ODOT crews will plow in 12 hour-shifts to keep roads clear. She also urged citizens to stay home.

"Stay home, plan ahead, put your distractions down (if traveling) and give our workers room to work," Oliphant said. "That helps our crews."

Mercer and Auglaize county residents can sign up for weather updates via NIXLE. Mercer County residents can sign up through the sheriff's office webpage at www.mercercountysheriffohio.gov or by texting mercerso to 888777.

Mercer County residents also can stay informed on road conditions through the sheriff's app or the sheriff's Facebook page, Mercer Sheriff.

Auglaize County residents can sign up for NIXLE through the sheriff's office website at https://www2.auglaizecounty.org/elected-officials/sheriff/nixle-county-alerts. Residents in both counties also can monitor local radio and television stations for updates.

Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey on Monday issued a news release about the three snow alert levels and what they mean for residents.

Level one means roads are hazardous. Level two indicates roads are hazardous and only those who feel it necessary to drive should be on the roads, and citizens should contact their employer to see if they should report to work. Level three means some or most county roads are impassable to regular vehicle traffic, and all county roadways are closed to non-emergency personnel, Grey said in the release.

During a level three snow alert no one should be out unless absolutely necessary, and all employees should contact their work to see if they should report to work, according to the Mercer County sheriff's office. Persons traveling on Mercer County roadways may be subject to arrest, according to the sheriff's office.

Grey in Monday's release noted the sheriff's office only declares snow alerts for unincorporated areas. Other areas such as Celina and villages may have different road conditions in their municipalities.

In the event of a level three snow alert, the Mercer County sheriff's office will pull their cruisers off the roadways and will only respond to emergencies; roads will be impassable and deputies may need a county or state plow to lead them to a call, according to the release.

Should a level three snow alert occur, the Mercer County sheriff's office will have a car stationed at the Mendon Fire Department to handle calls in the northern part of the county, a car at the sheriff's office to handle calls in the center of the county and a car at the St. Henry Fire Department to handle calls in the southern part of the county, according to the release.

For people shoveling snow or snow blowing, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons advises they dress appropriately, start early by clearing snow early and often, ensure adequate visibility and check with a doctor if necessary.

For snow shoveling, individuals should warm up their muscles beforehand with 10 minutes of light exercise. They should also try to push the snow instead of lifting it, according to the academy.

If lifting is necessary, a person should squat with their legs apart, knees bent and back straight and lift with their legs. Do not bend at the waist. People also should not throw the snow over their shoulder or to the side, which stresses the back, according to the academy.

If a person is snow blowing, they should never stick their hands in the snowblower if snow jams, says the academy. Stop the engine and wait more than five seconds, and use a solid object to clear wet snow or debris from the chute.

People should also keep children away from snow blowers, watch for motor recoil and understand the machine before using it, according to the academy.

Get a detailed look at the forecast.