Drifting issues

County and municipal crews have been plowing since the weekend, but high winds and drifting snow have made progress difficult.

Jay County continued to operate under a travel watch Tuesday morning, with schools closed for the second day in a row after nearly a foot of snow fell over the weekend.

Mercer County continued to be under a Level 2 snow alert and Fort Recovery schools were closed.

Jay County Emergency Management Agency director Samantha Rhodehamel said the county planned to keep the travel watch in effect until Jay County Highway Department could make headway on clearing roads.

“We’re kind of just in a holding pattern until we see what they’re going to be capable of,” Rhodehamel said.

Under a watch in Indiana, only essential travel is advised, such as for work or emergencies.

Jay School Corporation superintendent Jeremy Gulley shared an update late Monday, indicating that in-person classes and after-school events would not be held as long as the county is on a travel watch.

Under a Level 2 snow alert in Ohio, only those who feel it necessary to drive should be on the roadways, with travel for work allowed.

Jay County Highway Department drivers started around 5 a.m. Tuesday. Superintendent Bob Howell explained Tuesday morning that the wind was making it difficult to keep roads clear.

“(Our drivers) blow it off, and we still have the wind, so we’re still experiencing drifting,” he explained.

While north-south roads were problematic Monday, the drifting snow issue spread countywide Tuesday. Progress seemed to quickly deteriorate with the wind and extreme cold. Around 8:45 a.m. Tuesday, Howell and his crew were trying to figure out what directions to focus on, pointing to the fact that the wind wasn’t expected to calm down until that afternoon.

City crews were in much the same position.

“We’re chasing our tail,” said Portland Street Department superintendent Matt Shauver, whose crew started around 3 a.m. Tuesday. 

Portland crews spread 6.5 tons of salt on streets Monday.

He expressed optimism, noting city departments have teamed up to work through the weather event. A few employees from the wastewater and water departments joined snow-clearing efforts Tuesday.

    Austin Schlosser of Portland Water Department works on thawing out a water meter Tuesday for First Presbyterian Church at the corner of Ship and Arch streets in Portland. (The Commercial Review/Bailey Call)

Fort Recovery village administrator Aaron Rengers also shared positive thoughts, saying the streets continue to be maintained and in passable condition. Village workers continued to clear roads Tuesday.

Jay County Highway Department didn’t have as much luck on its end. 

Trucks started breaking down — five were out of commission at one time, with three of those back on the road as of noon Tuesday — as snow and freezing temperatures took their toll.

“When they’re out, and it’s blowing and they’re taking that snow off, it just turns into a big old ice cube underneath,” Howell explained.

The department parked three snow plows inside overnight to thaw. Limited indoor space, though, kept some vehicles that needed attention outdoors.

With the travel watch still in effect, Rhodehamel asked residents to exercise patience with road-clearing efforts.

“(Highway department workers are) still actively working to get the roads back open and get them so they are passable by something other than a four-wheel drive (vehicle),” she said.

Snow began falling about 5 p.m. Saturday and continued throughout the day Sunday. Snowfall totals came in at 11.5 inches.

Jay County was on a travel warning, which calls for refraining from all travel, from 6 p.m. Sunday through noon Monday.

The National Weather Service had the area under a cold weather advisory Monday and Tuesday, and those conditions are not expected to improve tonight. The projected low is minus 5, with wind chills as low as minus 15.

    Cage Reynolds, 9, shovels snow Monday from the sidewalk and driveway at The Vision on Votaw recovery home in Portland. Reynolds and brothers Cooper, 15, and Cash, 13, worked Monday evening to clear snow from the facility operated by Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition. (The Commercial Review/Bailey Call)
  

Highs were expected to stay in single digits or teens all week, with overnight lows below zero through at least Saturday. That includes a low of minus 8 on Thursday. Temperatures were not projected to reach the 20s until Monday.

With frigid temperatures and wind chills dipping below zero, Rhodehamel advised taking safety precautions such as dressing in layers.

For those traveling Tuesday, she advised folks to pack their vehicles with emergency kits — items could include a first aid box, blankets, food and water, jumper cables and a flashlight.

Howell advised drivers to be ready for drifting snow.

“Just be cautious and be prepared for snow drifts to be across the roadway and some slick, slick spots,” Howell said.