What Are Travel Alerts?
When road conditions deteriorate during winter weather conditions, the leadership at the Highway Department, Sheriff's Department and Emergency Management Agency consult to determine if those conditions warrant the issuance of Travel Alerts to notify the public of potentially dangerous situations. These Travel Alert Classifications will be used to inform the public about the conditions of roads in UNINCORPORATED Porter County. Unincorporated means outside the municipal boundaries of our cities and towns.
These classifications were designed to mirror the Travel Alert Classifications on the Indiana Department of Homeland Security website.
· TRAVEL ADVISORY: The lowest level of local travel alert, it 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. Under a Travel Advisory, you should exercise caution in driving, or avoid driving if possible.
· TRAVEL WATCH: A Travel Watch means that conditions are threatening to the safety of the public. During a Travel Watch advisory, only essential travel, such as to and from work or in emergency situations, is recommended.
· TRAVEL WARNING: A Travel Warning means that the Porter County Board of Commissioners has declared a State Of Emergency. It also means that travel on roads in unincorporated Porter County is restricted to emergency management workers only. Under a Travel Warning, individuals are directed to refrain from all travel and comply with necessary emergency measures.
Travel Alert Communications Process:
When conditions warrant, the Emergency Management Agency Director will notify the Commissioners’ designee when any Travel Alerts are declared, modified or ended. The Director will update the Indiana Department of Homeland Security Travel website and the Commissioners’ designee will provide the information to:
· The three Commissioners via text message;
· Internal Porter County Government department heads and designees including, but not limited to, the Sheriff’s Department, Emergency Management Agency and Central Communications (E-911) via email;
· All Porter County School District Superintendents and their designees via email;
· To the public by notifying local media outlets/
· To the public via the Porter County Government Facebook page and shared on the Alert Porter County, Porter County Central Communications 911 and Porter County Emergency Management pages. Depending on the level of Travel Alert, the information may also be shared on other County managed Facebook pages including Porter County Expo, Porter County Animal Shelter, Recycle Porter County, Lost & Found Pets In Porter County; · To the public by posting the Travel Alert level on the County website at www.porterco.org and sending notifications of the alert to all who have subscribed to receive Travel Alert notices via email and/or text message.
To sign-up to receive a text and/or email notifications when Travel Alerts are issued and rescinded, please visit https://www.porterco.org/list.aspx