ELYRIA, Ohio — Technically, no—winter’s not here yet. But in the practical sense, the season’s dropping temperatures, snow and ice are already impacting large parts of North America, so it’s time to make sure trucks and fleets are prepared. 

CINCINNATI — While winter officially arrives on December 21, many areas of the country have already been experiencing snow and ice, which can mean dangerous driving conditions. First Student urges motorists, students and parents to take extra precautions this time of year, to stay safe on the roads and at the bus stop.

Despite Winter Storm Bruce forcing cancelation of flights across the Midwest, and threatening to extend the Thanksgiving holiday by at least a day, school buses largely continued motoring, as they transported students to and from school. But the harsh, wintry weather will only increase.

A school bus driver drove into a low-water crossing in Texas, and the incident was captured on the dash cam, reported mynbc15.com.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued an immediate 30-day Regional Emergency Declaration in response to the arrival of Hurricane Michael.

The National Weather Service reported Friday morning that, “a life-threatening storm surge is already occurring along portions of the North Carolina coast and will continue through today and tonight. This surge is also likely along portions of the South Carolina coast.”

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued an emergency declaration on Sept. 10, in expectation of the arrival of Hurricane Florence. The declaration provided for the smooth flow of people, equipment and supplies during and after the emergency, in the affected states. The declaration is posted below, in its entirety, unedited. The primary mission of FMCSA is to “prevent crashes, injuries and fatalities involving large trucks and buses.”

Post-Tropical Cyclone Olivia slammed the Hawaiian Islands, causing flooding and landslides—but no injuries on Maui, reported the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.