Metro Atlanta and North Georgia on Tuesday were paralyzed by a few inches of snow, an embarrassing reality for city that touts itself as an economic player on the world stage.
Gov. Nathan Deal declared a state of emergency, a symbolic declaration that did nothing to help the thousands of motorists stranded on the region’s roads for hours unable to move any distance in any reasonable amount of time.
The city’s roads turned to gridlock by about 1 p.m. as panicked masses tried to navigate to any number of destinations. It was quickly apparent government officials at all levels were unprepared to respond to the weather.
By 10 p.m., highways and other thoroughfares remained parking lots as the moisture on the road turned to ice.