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Georgia ramps up winter storm-fighting efforts as south braces for more snow Georgia ramps up winter storm-fighting efforts as south braces for more snow
(7 months later)
Southern states were bracing for a second round of extreme winter weather on Tuesday, with public officials in Atlanta put to another test just two weeks after the city was paralysed and thousands left stranded by barely three inches of snow.Southern states were bracing for a second round of extreme winter weather on Tuesday, with public officials in Atlanta put to another test just two weeks after the city was paralysed and thousands left stranded by barely three inches of snow.
The governor of Georgia, Nathan Deal, whose leadership was called into question for the state’s belated and ill-equipped response to the 28 January snowstorm, declared states of emergency in 45 counties ahead of a major ice storm due Tuesday night.The governor of Georgia, Nathan Deal, whose leadership was called into question for the state’s belated and ill-equipped response to the 28 January snowstorm, declared states of emergency in 45 counties ahead of a major ice storm due Tuesday night.
State and local authorities were “making every effort to be prepared”, he said, as the National Weather Service forecast that a storm considerably worse than last month’s, would bring hazardous conditions across a large swathe of the deep south. State and local authorities were “making every effort to be prepared”, he said, as the National Weather Service forecast that a storm considerably worse than last month’s, would bring hazardous conditions across a large swathe of the deep south.
“We’re not looking back, we’re looking forward. The next three days are going to be challenging,” said Deal at a press conference on Monday. “I think we’re certainly ahead of the game this time.”“We’re not looking back, we’re looking forward. The next three days are going to be challenging,” said Deal at a press conference on Monday. “I think we’re certainly ahead of the game this time.”
Georgia’s National Guard and its 1,400 four-wheel drive vehicles have been put on standby, schools closed and motorists urged to stay off the roads. Supermarkets were packed on Monday with residents stocking up for several days of confinement and petrol stations experienced long queues.Georgia’s National Guard and its 1,400 four-wheel drive vehicles have been put on standby, schools closed and motorists urged to stay off the roads. Supermarkets were packed on Monday with residents stocking up for several days of confinement and petrol stations experienced long queues.
The storm’s first wave brought rain, sleet and plunging temperatures overnight, but a second wave will coat parts of Georgia and South Carolina in up to half an inch of solid ice. Alabama, Tennessee and Arkansas have also been placed on a storm watch.The storm’s first wave brought rain, sleet and plunging temperatures overnight, but a second wave will coat parts of Georgia and South Carolina in up to half an inch of solid ice. Alabama, Tennessee and Arkansas have also been placed on a storm watch.
“The amount of ice that we’re looking at, it’s catastrophic,” said Aaron Strickland, chief emergency executive of Georgia Power, which has called in back-up crews from other states including Florida and Michigan. “The ice will build up on trees, trees will come down, take down the power lines, so it is an event that we’re extremely fearful of,” he added.“The amount of ice that we’re looking at, it’s catastrophic,” said Aaron Strickland, chief emergency executive of Georgia Power, which has called in back-up crews from other states including Florida and Michigan. “The ice will build up on trees, trees will come down, take down the power lines, so it is an event that we’re extremely fearful of,” he added.
Also at stake is Deal’s political future, and that of Atlanta’s mayor, Kasim Reed. The Republican governor, who is up for re-election this year, and the Democratic civic leader, were heavily mocked and criticised for their failure to prepare for last month’s weather episode, and for their uncoordinated response once crisis struck. Motorists were stuck for up to 20 hours on gridlocked interstates and children marooned in schools and on buses. Also at stake is Deal’s political future, and that of Atlanta’s mayor, Kasim Reed. The Republican governor, who is up for re-election this year, and the Democratic civic leader, were heavily mocked and criticised for their failure to prepare for last month’s weather episode, and for their uncoordinated response once crisis struck. Motorists were stuck for up to 20 hours on gridlocked interstates and children marooned in schools and on buses.
Quick-settling snow reduced interstates to a standstill, creating traffic chaos that was nicknamed “Snow Jam” – as thousands of vehicles ground to a halt. Many motorists, unprepared due to a lack of warning, shivered in their vehicles overnight. Others abandoned their vehicles altogether and sought shelter in strangers’ homes, supermarkets, home improvement centres and pharmacies that stayed open to help them.Quick-settling snow reduced interstates to a standstill, creating traffic chaos that was nicknamed “Snow Jam” – as thousands of vehicles ground to a halt. Many motorists, unprepared due to a lack of warning, shivered in their vehicles overnight. Others abandoned their vehicles altogether and sought shelter in strangers’ homes, supermarkets, home improvement centres and pharmacies that stayed open to help them.
The governor subsequently set up a 32-member “severe weather task force” that brings together emergency management, law enforcement, transportation, health, schools and power company officials. By the close of Monday, he had already staged two press conferences to spread advice and information to the public – a move that he was criticised for failing to make before last month’s storm – and opened an emergency operations centre. The governor subsequently set up a 32-member “severe weather task force” that brings together emergency management, law enforcement, transportation, health, schools and power company officials. By the close of Monday, he had already staged two press conferences to spread advice and information to the public – a move that he was criticised for failing to make before last month’s storm – and opened an emergency operations centre.
In Atlanta, Reed has doubled the city’s storm-fighting capacity by contracting for more snow ploughs and stockpiling road-clearing resources such as salt. He declined to say, however, whether the city would do better this time around. “We’re just going to get out there and flat-out let our work speak for itself,” he said.In Atlanta, Reed has doubled the city’s storm-fighting capacity by contracting for more snow ploughs and stockpiling road-clearing resources such as salt. He declined to say, however, whether the city would do better this time around. “We’re just going to get out there and flat-out let our work speak for itself,” he said.
Jeff Masters, chief meteorologist at Weather Underground, warned that the storm could be at least as widespread as last month’s. “The snow and freezing rain action begins Monday night over northeast Texas, southeast Oklahoma, southern Arkansas and northern Louisiana, then spreads eastwards on Tuesday into northern portions of Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina, and over much of North Carolina,” he said on his blog.“The storm will move up the eastern seaboard Wednesday night into Thursday, potentially bringing snow to major east coast cities.”Jeff Masters, chief meteorologist at Weather Underground, warned that the storm could be at least as widespread as last month’s. “The snow and freezing rain action begins Monday night over northeast Texas, southeast Oklahoma, southern Arkansas and northern Louisiana, then spreads eastwards on Tuesday into northern portions of Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina, and over much of North Carolina,” he said on his blog.“The storm will move up the eastern seaboard Wednesday night into Thursday, potentially bringing snow to major east coast cities.”