Georgia
Make preparations: State of emergency declared in Georgia ahead of second winter storm
Car defrosting tricks you need to try
With temperatures dropping, prepare to spend more time in the morning clearing frost, ice and potentially snow from their car.
unbranded – Lifestyle
Remember when Georgia had some significant winter weather less than two weeks ago? Well, déjà vu.
On Monday, Gov. Brian Kemp issued a state of emergency for all of Georgia. This authorizes the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency to activate the State Operations Center and mobilize any needed resources to address potential impacts. Georgia Department of Transportation the Georgia Department of Public Safety, and other agencies are instructed to provide essential personnel to the SOC.
The State of Emergency also prohibits price gouging, suspends hours-of-service limitations for commercial vehicle operators involved in response activities and temporarily increases weight, height, and length limits for commercial vehicles transporting essential supplies.
This comes shortly after the National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch for much of Georgia Tuesday and Wednesday which has since been upgraded to a winter storm warning for areas like Savannah, Valdosta, and Macon. The Athens and Atlanta areas are currently under winter weather and cold weather advisories. Augusta is just under a cold weather advisory.
The NWS probabilistic snow and ice forecasts are showing the heaviest concentration in the South. Up to 2 inches of snow is expected. Most of the South will see up to one-tenth of an inch of ice, but the most southern areas like Waycross and Valdosta may see up to one-quarter inch. As you travel further north, snow and ice forecasts shrink with much of north Georgia largely unaffected.
In a news release from Kemp’s office, it was confirmed that the GDOT began brining operations Sunday morning, focusing on pre-treating interstates, state routes, bridges, and overpasses across the state. Crews are prioritizing high-traffic routes and areas providing access to hospitals and urgent care centers. Residents are urged to avoid travel whenever possible. For those who have to, GDOT advises drivers to be careful and provide extra space for crews to safely continue treating and clearing roads.
Additionally, state offices in Atlanta, including the State Capitol and surrounding area, will be closed Tuesday as state employees who live in or commute to an office in the city limits work remotely. Agency officials have discretion to close offices outside of Atlanta and instruct employees to work remotely for the safety of their workers. That discretion extends into Wednesday and possibly into Thursday, depending on the weather.
“As we continue to coordinate with state and local officials throughout the state, I urge everyone to make their own preparations to ensure they and their families can remain safe over the coming days, especially if road conditions prevent travel,” Kemp said.
Miguel Legoas is a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for Gannett/USA Today. Find him on X and Instagram @miguelegoas and email at mlegoas@gannett.com.