ATLANTA — Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp declared a statewide state of emergency, effective immediately and running through Tuesday, Jan. 14, in preparation for the approaching winter storm expected to impact the state starting Friday.
The declaration authorizes the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency to activate the State Operations Center and mobilize any needed resources to address potential impacts. GEMA/HS, the Georgia Department of Transportation, the Georgia Department of Public Safety, and other state agencies are instructed to provide essential personnel to the SOC, which will move to a Level 2 Activation starting at 7 p.m.
As we monitor the incoming winter weather system, our priority is keeping Georgians safe.
With that in mind and in coordination with @GeorgiaEMAHS, other state and local leaders, and @NWS guidance, state offices within affected areas north of and including Columbus, Macon, and…
— Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) January 8, 2025
“The Georgia Department of Transportation, along with the Department of Public Safety, began treating roads early this morning to prepare for the approaching winter storm, and I’m asking all Georgians to help them do their jobs by limiting travel as much as possible in the coming days,” Kemp said in a statement.
“Hazardous conditions, including ice and snow, can develop quickly and make travel very dangerous,” the governor added. “Plan ahead and stay tuned to updates from state and local officials to ensure you and your loved ones remain safe while our first responders continue to work tirelessly throughout this weather event.”
Among other provisions, the order 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.
State officials don’t want a repeat of the embarrassing January 2024 storm, which ground the city — the “economic engine of the south” — to a halt for days.
GDOT officials said they began active brine operations overnight, which continued this morning across metro Atlanta and north Georgia. Brine application will continue throughout the day in areas expected to be the most impacted by snow accumulation, sleet and freezing rain.
Crews are working 12-hour shifts and are prioritizing treating interstates, state routes, bridges and overpasses both north and south of and along I-20. GDOT crews began arriving from south Georgia yesterday to help supplement existing manpower and equipment in the metro Atlanta area; those brine crews joined forces with metro Atlanta crews last evening to assist in applying brine to metro area roadways.
Snowplow and removal crews and additional equipment will arrive on Thursday and support metro Atlanta crews when snow begins to fall and active removal begins.
