Full Notification

The Steuben County Commissioners in cooperation with the Sheriff, Steuben County Highway and the Steuben County Emergency Management have reduced the Snow Warning level and replaced it with a Snow WATCH Level for Steuben County effective at 6pm 1/26/2014 and continuing indefinitely. Storm/weather systems and roadways will be monitored throughout the night and tomorrow morning closely.The NWS has advised the winds will blow this evening and throughout the night causing blowing and drifting snow with wind chill temperatures well below zero. Driving is to be essential travel only and we are asking if you do not have to drive, do not. Should you require travel, please drive slower than normal, give yourself plenty of travel time and plenty of stopping distance between other vehicles and at intersections. Regular media outlets plus the Sheriff Facebook page, www.steubensheriff.com and Nixle text alerts will be used to alert everyone of any updates. If you do not have to travel, we are encouraging everyone not to. If you do have to travel, please allow plenty of time, drive slower than normal and give plenty of distance between traveling vehicles.

WATCH
Means that conditions are threatening to the safety of the public. During a "watch" local travel advisory, only essential travel, such as to and from work or in emergency situations, is recommended, and emergency action plans should be implemented by businesses, schools, government agencies, and other organizations.

Below are the levels of snow emergency.
Indiana Department of Homeland Security

Warning
The highest level of local travel advisory, means that travel may be restricted to emergency management workers only. During a "warning" local travel advisory, individuals are directed to:
(A) refrain from all travel;
(B) comply with necessary emergency measures;
(C) cooperate with public officials and disaster services forces in executing emergency operations plans; and
(D) obey and comply with the lawful directions of properly identified officers.

Watch
Means that conditions are threatening to the safety of the public. During a "watch" local travel advisory, only essential travel, such as to and from work or in emergency situations, is recommended, and emergency action plans should be implemented by businesses, schools, government agencies, and other organizations.

Advisory
The lowest level of local travel advisory, means that routine travel or activities may be restricted in areas because of a hazardous situation, and individuals should use caution or avoid those areas.


Tim R. Troyer
Sheriff