Confusing Snow Emergency Messaging Puts Workers at Risk

By Aaron Knap | InPlugged

Clear communication during emergencies isn’t optional , it’s essential. Unfortunately, recent posts from the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office regarding winter storm conditions and Level 3 Snow Emergencies demonstrate exactly how not to communicate with the public.

On Friday, the Sheriff’s Office published a winter storm warning post that quickly became a lightning rod for concern. In the comments, officials stated that employers who require non-essential employees to report to work during a Level 3 Snow Emergency could be charged with Misconduct at an Emergency. They even encouraged citizens to report such employers directly to their office.

That statement alone caused widespread alarm, and understandably so.

Workers across Lorain County, particularly those in factories, warehouses, fast food, and retail, know all too well that many employers expect attendance regardless of weather conditions. For people in probationary periods or under strict attendance policies, staying home can mean termination. Seeing law enforcement suggest enforcement action against employers gave many workers the impression that legal protections were already in place.

But there was a major problem.

No Level 3 Snow Emergency had been declared.

That clarification came later — buried in comment replies after confusion had already spread. By then, the damage was done. The initial messaging failed to clearly distinguish between a hypothetical enforcement scenario and current conditions. As a result, people were left to guess whether they were legally protected, legally restricted, or legally obligated.

In Ohio, the law is clear:
Restrictions and penalties tied to a Level 3 Snow Emergency only apply after it is officially declared. Until then, travel is not prohibited, and employers are not violating emergency statutes by operating as usual — regardless of how dangerous conditions may feel.

When a law enforcement agency discusses potential criminal consequences without first and repeatedly stating that the triggering condition does not exist, it creates unnecessary panic. Worse, it places workers in a dangerous position — some may believe they are protected when they are not, while others may risk unsafe travel out of fear of losing their jobs.

Emergency communication must follow a simple rule:
State the current status first. Always.

A responsible message would have been clear and concise:

“At this time, no Level 3 Snow Emergency is in effect. If one is declared, only essential travel would be permitted, and employers requiring non-essential staff to report could face penalties. We will announce any declaration immediately.”

That clarity never came upfront.

Public safety messaging should reduce confusion, not amplify it. When law enforcement speaks, people assume accuracy, authority, and immediacy. Mixing legal hypotheticals with real-time warnings — especially on social media — erodes trust and creates unnecessary fear.

Lorain County residents deserve better. Workers deserve clear information. And during severe weather, clarity can quite literally be the difference between safety and harm.

Emergency messaging isn’t about engagement or comment replies — it’s about responsibility.

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Conflicting Snow Emergency Messaging Creates Confusion for Workers
By Aaron Knap | InPlugged

During severe weather events, public officials have a responsibility to communicate clearly, accurately, and in a way that does not create unnecessary confusion. Recent social media posts from the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office related to winter storm conditions and potential Level 3 Snow Emergencies failed to meet that standard.

On Friday, the Sheriff’s Office posted a winter storm warning and engaged with residents in the comments. In several replies, the office stated that employers who require non-essential employees to report to work during a Level 3 Snow Emergency could be charged with “Misconduct at an Emergency.” Residents were also encouraged to direct message the office with information about such employers.

The problem is simple and significant. At the time those statements were made, no Level 3 Snow Emergency had been declared in Lorain County.

Under Ohio law, a Level 3 Snow Emergency is not advisory. It is a legal designation issued by the county sheriff that restricts travel to emergency personnel and individuals with a legitimate emergency. Only once that declaration is made do related enforcement provisions apply.

Ohio Revised Code 2917.13 defines “Misconduct at an Emergency.” The statute applies when a person knowingly disobeys or interferes with a lawful order during a declared emergency. Without a declared Level 3 emergency, the statute does not apply. Employers cannot violate an emergency order that does not exist.

This distinction matters.

Many workers in Lorain County are employed in factories, warehouses, food service, and other industries with strict attendance policies. New hires often face termination after only a small number of absences. When a law enforcement agency suggests criminal consequences in public comments without clearly stating that no emergency has been declared, workers are left to interpret the situation on their own.

Some may believe they are legally protected from employer discipline when they are not. Others may assume enforcement is imminent and panic unnecessarily. Both outcomes are avoidable with clear communication.

The Sheriff’s Office later clarified in a reply that a Level 3 Snow Emergency had not been declared and advised residents to monitor the page for updates. That clarification should have been included in every response discussing enforcement, not added after confusion had already spread.

Emergency communication should follow a basic rule. Current conditions must be stated clearly and repeatedly before discussing hypothetical scenarios. Public safety agencies should not rely on comment threads to correct misunderstandings they helped create.

A clear and responsible message would have stated the following:

At this time, no Level 3 Snow Emergency is in effect. If a Level 3 is declared, only essential travel would be permitted, and employers requiring non-essential employees to report could be subject to enforcement under Ohio law. Any declaration will be announced officially by this office.

That message would have informed the public without misleading them.

Social media is now one of the primary ways residents receive emergency information. That makes accuracy and clarity even more critical. When law enforcement communication blurs the line between current law and potential future action, it undermines public trust and places working people in difficult and sometimes unsafe positions.

Lorain County residents deserve clear information, especially when weather conditions are dangerous. Workers deserve to know exactly where they stand under the law, not to be left guessing in a comment section.

Clear communication is not optional during an emergency. It is part of the job.