From time to time we experience winter weather conditions in our area. When these alerts are made we advise our members and attenders to exercise caution when making winter travel decisions. Usually these alerts fall into three categories. Mild, moderate, and severe. Here is what we do at Sunny Hills in regard to these conditions:
— Mild warnings. These are the type of “mixed precipitation” warnings that usually say “little or no accumulating snow expected.” Sunny Hills remains open during these events.
— Moderate warnings. These are the “2 to 4 inch” warnings and are very temperature dependent. At 28 degrees, 2 to 4 inches of snow or sleet may freeze and be very slick … while at 34 degrees it’s just a wet slush. These are the warnings that make me think “4 wheel drive” is needed to get to church.
— Severe warnings. Here the weather service is saying, “don’t get out.” We close the office and cancel services for these warnings.
In the mild and moderate weather conditions the church office usually stays open. If these conditions are present on Sunday morning we try to post on our Facebook page and also on this website whether or not church is a GO for that Sunday.
In any case here are some things to keep in mind:
- Safety first. Consider your own situation and understand conditions where you are may be more or less severe than they are at our church location.
- Our driveway includes a hill and pond. These two factors should be considered when deciding if you can drive to church. Unless you are confident that your vehicle and skill are up to the challenge of winter driving, stay home.
- Remember, we have Facebook Live and our Online Service available in mild and moderate snow conditions. In those severe cases when we close there will be no Facebook Live but our Online Service is still and option.
Bottom line: Don’t drive to church in winter weather conditions, unless you’re certain it’s safe for you. It’s okay to miss a Sunday, and we’ll be here next Sunday when the weather is better. [We actually budget for 50 Sundays a year, expecting to be ‘snowed out’ at least twice.]