Road conditions quickly deteriorated due to a mix of icyconditions and people heading home early. Incident Support That led to Too many people hitting the roads at the same time. There wasn't that much snow, but a perfect storm of events led to one of the biggest messes in Georgia's history. 5 Comments / By Andy Darnell / January 9, 2012 January 9, 2012. 2023 Cox Media Group. Average Snowfall: 1 inch Usual Weather in Atlanta in February Average High Temperature: 57 degrees Average Low Temperature: 37 degrees Average Precipitation: 4.5 inches Average Snowfall: 0.5 inches Usual Weather in Atlanta in March Average High Temperature: 65 degrees Average Low Temperature: 44 degrees Average Precipitation: 5.1 inches This amazing. Atlanta had been here before. She spent 22 hours in her Ford Focus, too scared to step out of the car and too nervous to sleep for fear that traffic would start moving at any moment. State and city leaders were put on the offensive for their handling of the storm. Weather Radio Obviously, if you had an accident, your repair will qualify you for Diminished Value as well. The real problem, he said, was a vast and unexpected flow of people who took to the roads at nearly the same time. The alarm was sounded too late. And we found heroes were among all of us. Recreational Forecast He had only a quarter of a cookie someone shared with him to eat. Ice and snow coated Charleston, S.C., Augusta, Ga., New Orleans and dozens of other Southern communities ill-equipped to deal with it. WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta facebook feed(Opens a new window), WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta twitter feed(Opens a new window), WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta instagram feed(Opens a new window), WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta youtube feed(Opens a new window), Gov. Channel 2 Action News is taking a look at the biggest events in Georgia history as WSB-TV celebrates its 75th anniversary. Crews worked hundreds of crashes over the course several days. Dozens, if not hundreds, of vehicles were left stranded after the storm created massive gridlock on the roads. Put Byron on the line, the dispatcher told her, because the ambulance is not coming, and he is about to deliver a baby., I almost passed out when I heard that, Mr. Dobbins said. Ms. Bonaparte spent the night on jammed roads with tens of thousands of other desperate Atlanta-area drivers who had never seen anything like the sheet of ice that coated the city. Over three days, from Jan. 12-14, 1982, 4 inches of snow, sleet and freezing rain fell in Atlanta, quickly paralyzing the city. Here's how the story unfolded on our Facebook page: The first signs of a snow storm aren't typically flakes falling from the sky A few hours into the Winter Storm Warning and FOX 5's Joanne Feldman was already tracking snow showers moving into the state. When Auburn plays in the BCS Championship the weather is going to get bad. Known as "Snowmageddon 2014 or the "Snowpocalypse," it was a snow event that left two inches of snow throughout much of central Alabama, stranding motorists on Highway 280 in Birmingham and Highway 431 at the Calhoun/Etowah County line, stranding students at schools, and giving cities a chance to use recently acquired military vehicles to take Drivers take refuge inside a local store as roads become too slick to drive on. One of the most infamous winter storms in Atlanta history was dubbed Snowmageddon, and it took place on January 28, 2014. Winter in Georgia tends to be mild, with an average of just two to three inches of snow on the snowiest of days. When winter storms approach, schools, businesses and government offices shut down in advance a method that Tim Lomax of the Texas Transportation Institute says usually works in Southern cities. Although the. So, here you are, 3 years to the dot and it happens again, Atlanta is brought to its knees with traffic lines lasting on average 5 hours. Tori Linder, 22, was on her way to her job at a neonatal intensive care unit when she got caught in a traffic jam on Interstate 285. Nathan Deal and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed face withering scrutiny over their handling of the weather emergency. Get Prepared, Additional Info After so much havoc was caused by a storm that brought only 2-3 inches of snow to most of the Atlanta metro area, Georgia Gov. Robert Puentes, a transportation expert at the Brookings Institution, says the region's paralyzed road transportation network hammers the shipment of goods through Atlanta. Warner Robins Other cities were caught off guard as well. Please Contact Us. Because Atlanta is such a vital air transportation hub, the storm walloped operations at the world's busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. It makes you very emotional after a while, she said. This article was published more than9 years ago. A snowfall that began after midnight brought the entire city to a standstill, with cars trapped on the interstate and ice blanketing the streets. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iudRPyX4934. February 11-13, 2014 Event Summary On the heels of a significant winter storm 2 weeks earlier, a more powerful storm brought heavy snow and record level of ice to north and central Georgia on February 11-13, 2014. The Georgia Department of Transportation purchased equipment and even sent people to cold-weather cities to see how they handle snowstorms. Nathan Deal said about the storm. FAQs It's about to begin! Just having that data available in real-time in an event has truly been a game changer., Popular Mobile Games You Must Play In 2023. US Dept of Commerce It was not, and there were a number of contributing factors: Metro Atlanta was caught flatfooted. In Birmingham, Ala., more than 1,500 students spent Tuesday night at school, and more were expected to be stuck at school on Wednesday night, too. This might simply be Atlanta's fate in winter storms: The city was also brought to a standstill in a winter storm in 1993. Commuters wouldnt have missed much if they fell asleep in their cars. Please select one of the following: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Thirty minutes go by and the Alpharetta fire department shows up and clears the road fairly quickly, but I still couldnt cross as they have not yet cleared the bridge from ice. Elected officials declared that their departments were unprepared for that storm but will put systems in place for the next time. Climate FAQs, Weather Safety In the days leading up to the storm, forecasters said the brunt of it would hit south of the city. Ginger Reid, 44, waited for eight hours to see her son, Ross, 11, who was stuck on a bus. User's Guide, About Us Denise Watkins, who was moving on Tuesday, ended up sleeping on a strangers couch after inching through the city for about nine hours. I relied on friends and family to keep me going. When the storm hit Atlanta, those crews headed to the city and got stuck in traffic, too. Ben Gray/Atlanta Journal-Constitution, via Associated Press. ", "I'm willing to accept whatever blame comes my way," Deal said. Copyright 2020 WBRC. Sorry, the location you searched for was not found. Would you rather collect 80% of an accurate appraisal or 20% of an inflated one? Reed and Deal have said repeatedly that everybody left for home at the same time instead of spreading it out over the normal 4 to 7 p.m. evening rush hour deluging the roads. Even James Spann, Alabamas best-known television meteorologist, known for his accuracy in predicting the path of tornadoes and other severe weather, called his forecast for Tuesday a bust. She had to turn off her car when it began to overheat. If youre one of the unfortunate drivers whos cars were totaled, remember, you dont have to accept the insurance companys valuation, always hire your own appraiser if you suspect that their offer is too low. A lot of us watched the game, because we couldn't leave the house. We crippled transportation across the country. I was like if I dont get home to my parents, like, Im going to freak out, one student said. Flickr Tommy Byrd. But then I got my composure. The "Snowpocalypse" got attention nationally, with late night comedians even getting in on the act. Georgia typically only sees two snowy days per year, though sometimes, there can be slightly more in the northernmost parts of the state. We cannot provide any kind of advice, explanation, opinion, or recommendation about possible legal rights, taxes, remedies, defenses, options, selection of forms or strategies. George Busbee declared a state of emergency, mobilizing the. Seven things to look for when choosing an appraisal company. You might be interested in the seven natural wonders of Georgia, then! The storm only produced about two to three inches of snow. Also, there is more pre-treatment of the states roads. ATLANTA Remember Snowmageddon, aka Snowpocalypse, in 2014? Within a very short window of time, many more motorists got on the roadways and during that same timeframe is when the amount of snow continued to come, then-Gov. Tanner says a flu epidemic that year meant a lot of people were home sick and the EMA had trouble communicating with those businesses and agencies as a result. January 06, 2014 at 12:15 pm EST ATLANTA Some people called it Snowmageddon, others called it Snowpocalypse, thankfully very few people called it snOMG. All NOAA. As I was driving home from my office (4.5 mile trip took me 3 hours), I was stopped ahead of a bridge by an Alpharetta police officer, I was the first car and could see the carnage in front of me, the bridge was a solid sheet of ice and multiple motorists wiped out ahead of me and are now parked sideways on the bridge. When a light snow started falling early Tuesday afternoon, Saquana Bonaparte, 31, left her. "Unlike the last event, when we had four pieces of equipment in Atlanta, this time, we had 70 pieces of equipment, and we knew how to use it.". Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. This is the metal plate above your rear bumper. What year was the big ice storm in Georgia? There was not much snow only a couple of inches in most parts of the city but as parents vehicles, school buses and tractor-trailers filled the Interstates, the roads iced over, and everything stopped. A night removed from The State of the Union, . Gridlock Guy: Snowmageddon memories in Atlanta crystal-clear 7 years later January 28, 2014: a day that will live in Atlanta infamy. Since 2014, there have been major changes on the state level, including the creation of a state meteorologist position to monitor our forecast and coordinate with state agencies. On Jan. 28, 2014, a little more than two inches of snow brought the city to its knees, the images of cars trapped on the interstate indelibly fixed in Atlanta's collective memory. Matthew Miller offered free peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and hot drinks to drivers stuck in traffic on Atlanta's Southbound Connector on Wednesday. See how many of these horrific winter storms in Georgia you can remember for yourself. Kids slept in their schools when no one could pick them up. In all, six Southern states declared emergencies. Deal is there to congratulate him. But in those sea of vehicles, reports of babies being born Do you have a memory you want to share with us? 6 on Clayton County sheriffs top 10 most wanted list arrested while picking kids up, Bride killed, husband seriously hurt in crash leaving wedding reception, Criminals are using this common security feature to access your bank accounts. The conditions led to crashes all over the place. Observations The police arrived and took the family to the hospital. Please visit our do I qualify page to learn more. It was virtually impossible to drive in midtown Atlanta. Past Weather Events They can be proactive on that, Lanxton said. Yearly Climate Graphs Local, Forecasts On Jan. 28, 2014, a little more than two inches of snow brought the city to its knees, the images of cars trapped on the interstate indelibly fixed in Atlanta's collective memory. Such a declaration usually triggers school dismissals and business closings. Some people had to. The problem with towing companies especially when in a rush is the fact that they dont strap vehicles well or attach their hook to the engine cradle or cross-member causing incidental damage to the structure of the vehicle. The storm also had a major impact on schools and children. A New Jersey native with over 15 years of writing experience, Marisa has studied at both New York University and Florida International University. Known as Snowmageddon 2014 or the Snowpocalypse, it was a snow event that left two inches of snow throughout much of central Alabama, stranding motorists on Highway 280 in Birmingham and Highway 431 at the Calhoun/Etowah County line, stranding students at schools, and giving cities a chance to use recently acquired military vehicles to take nurses to their shifts at hospitals. This exact situation must have occurred in the Atlanta Metro 100 more times, I was lucky and was able to cross the bridge an hour after it was shut down, others were not as lucky. Visit our total loss page. A snowfall that began after midnight brought the entire city to a standstill, with cars trapped on the interstate and ice blanketing the streets. Thankfully, Atlanta hasn't experienced anything likeSnowmageddon, also referred to as "Snowpocalypse," since 2014. http://media.cmgdigital.com/shared/lt/lt_cache/thumbnail/615/img/photos/2012/02/22/71/bf/26422139.jpg, http://media.cmgdigital.com/shared/lt/lt_cache/thumbnail/615/img/photos/2012/02/22/7b/74/26432047.jpg. He and other children were rescued when a group of fathers made their way down a hill on foot and took the boys to cars that whisked them to a parking lot, where Mrs. Reid was waiting with pizza. Snowmageddon, 2014. The ambulance that was headed their way crashed. WSB-TV marks 75th anniversary with yearlong celebration, Atlanta remembers 26 years since Olympic Park bombing, 12 things we remember about Snowmageddon 2011, Channel 2s Monica Pearson and Justin Farmer talk about witnessing Obama inauguration, Channel 2s Jovita Moore passes away after battle with brain cancer. And on Wednesday, Mayor Kasim Reed and Gov. "When you get two snowstorms every three years, it's easier to take that approach," he says. Students slept in school gyms. By keeping schools and government offices open, and by not requiring tractor-trailers to use chains or stay out of the citys core, metropolitan Atlanta gambled and lost. This weekend temperatures will be in the 60's for parts of north Georgia! He said there should be a staggered schedule of releases: Students leave first, then private business employees and finally government workers. Or if you want to take a deeper dive into the largest blizzard in Georgia history, feel free to do so. Local By August 15, 2022. Snowmageddon Atlanta 2014 The Atlanta disaster was mainly a traffic issue. He said the city's response was better than after "Snowmageddon 2011," the winter storm that paralyzed the Atlanta metro that year. By 8:35 Monday morning AirTran had canceled every single flight for the day. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); METHOD OF DIMINISHED VALUE CALCULATION IN REPAIRED VEHICLES, Diminished Value of Georgia Services and Price List. When Auburn kicks off against Florida State metro Atlanta temperatures will be in the teens. It is an image that would be seen over and over again. http://media.cmgdigital.com/shared/img/photos/2012/02/22/dc/8a/26431898.jpg, http://media.cmgdigital.com/shared/img/photos/2012/02/22/33/9e/26429570.jpg. Workers slept in the aisles at CVS. She fought a headache and hunger, trying not to focus on going to the bathroom and rationing her water. But Channel 2 Sports Director Zach Klein did a decent job sledding in Piedmont Park. Winter Storm Leon, which left about two inches of snow covering the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama, hit Atlanta particularly hard. As thousands of Atlanta residents jump in their cars and start going nowhere, Mayor Reed accepts the 2014 Georgian Of The Year award from GeorgiaTrend Magazine. I didnt see any kind of emergency help all night, she said. As the sun began to rise the next day, people woke up to the news that many of those same vehicles on Atlanta's interstates remained there overnight. Many abandoned their cars and just walked home. Jan. 29, 2014 ATLANTA There are bad commutes, and then there is what happened here this week. Police investigating early morning shooting at area Waffle House, Arrest made in Tuscaloosa shooting that left 1 injured, Tarrant City Council votes to reinstate police chief. In January 2011, Atlanta was hit with a massive snow storm, the whole city was offline for about 5 days. One of the most infamous winter storms in Atlanta history was dubbed Snowmageddon, and it took place on January 28, 2014. Here is our video story about how some stranded drivers had to sleep in their cars because of the ice. Reporting from you from the hub of Atlanta Georgia, our goal is to bring you the earliest a. WRONG! On the heels of a significant winter storm 2 weeks earlier, a more powerful storm brought heavy snow and record level of ice to north and central Georgia on February 11-13, 2014. People took to the highways on foot, handing out hot water and hot chocolate, bags of snacks and blankets. She ended up inching along in her car for almost 12 hours and survived on a half bag of beef jerky and a small bottle of Mountain Dew. Laura Gargis was four months pregnant and terrified when she became trapped on the interstate in the infamous 2014 winter storm known around metro Atlanta as "Snowmageddon." "Atlanta yesterday was buried under a blanket of snow that reached a depth of 10.3 inches, the largest in the 50-year history of the local weather bureau," Constitution reporter Luke Greene wrote. There was a lot of lesson-learned soul-searching after Snowmageddon 2011. Jon Stewart Made All The Easy Southern Jokes While Eviscerating Atlanta's Snowmageddon Last Night. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. Snow started falling on Atlanta on Tuesday and commuters, schools and businesses all let out at the same time, causing gridlock. Get breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox, WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta facebook feed(Opens a new window), WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta twitter feed(Opens a new window), WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta instagram feed(Opens a new window), WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta youtube feed(Opens a new window), Checks from Georgias $1 BILLION tax rebate are starting to hit bank accounts, No. Get more stories delivered right to your email. We made a mistake by not staggering when people should leave, so Ill take responsibility for that, he said. ", Reed defended his handling of the situation, arguing, "We got 1 million people out of the city of Atlanta in about 12 hours." Forecast Discussion Atlanta is a regional gateway city, meaning people driving from points north, south, east and west of the city pass through on on Interstates 75, 85 and 20; other interstate highways in the region include 285, 575 and 675. Almost eight years ago now, January 2014 gave us Snowmageddon. The January 28, 2014 snowstorm crippled metro Atlanta for almost a week and caused extreme chaos on the city's main interstates and highways. Deal acknowledged Tuesday that perhaps he should have acted sooner. You know, that time when commuters, schools and businesses all let out at the same time, causing gridlock. The sea of vehicles on the roadway showed signs of clearing by Jan. 30. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy, Atlanta mayor and Georgia governor face scrutiny over response to storm, Past winter storms caused similar problems in Atlanta. But other times, winter weather can be quite harsh closing down streets and highways, and oftentimes shutting down entire cities. Many clients believe that if another appraiser gives them a higher initial estimate, the settlement amount will be equally high. Some people had to abandon their cars or sleep in them overnight. 1. Marisa is well-versed in exploration as she travels a good majority of the year in her self-converted Sprinter van. The total snowfall was only 2-3 inches ATLANTA The winter storm paralyzing one of the nation's largest cities three years after another winter storm shut down the city in much the same way . All rights reserved. Satellite Images Channel 2's Richard Elliot caught one car spinning out on Ga. 400 live on TV. Anyone can read what you share. Children stuck on a school bus many hours after they were supposed to be home safe. One of the most infamous winter storms in Atlanta history was dubbed Snowmageddon, and it took place on January 28, 2014. Usually, the snow melts after a day or two along with the resolve to prevent a recurrence. Atlanta is such an important hub when it comes to goods movement.". Regional Loop, Climate This dry slot caused precipitation to break up across much of the area late Wednesday morning through the afternoon. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist, Mike Luckovich, depicted Deal and Reed responding to the snowfall by making snow angels. Fortunately a "dry slot" wrapped around the south end east side of the upper level low pressure area. Also called Snowpocalypse, Jan. 28, 2014, is far from forgotten by the metro. Atlanta Snowmageddon 2014 - Car Accidents and Appraisals / Car Appraisal Blog / By Diminished Value Car . When the week ended, we had received about 11,000 pictures from viewers. Not to mention the mess on I-285 where dozens of tractor trailers remained for several days. One of the biggest stories to impact Georgians in recent years was Snowmageddon, which happened nearly nine years ago this month. South of this line a mixture of rain, sleet and snow occurred with little impact at the time. Please fill out the form below to receive a FREE Diminished Value estimate. If the city had been closed and the storm had been as light as some forecasters had told him it was going to be, he said, money would have been lost, and people would have complained. The snow fell. Not all Atlantans are well versed at sledding. The winter storm caused major impacts and severe travel issues in the states of Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi as many people were caught outside unexpectedly in the hazardous conditions, which included snow, freezing rain and sleet. I was just like, oh, God, people are going to steal my stuff, and Im sitting here in the middle of the road.. The next storm was supposed to be different. The GA DOT has identified 6 towing companies responsible of moving vehicles from roadways they are: Towing companies are cashing in on this tragedy and charging motorists up to $200 for towing or moving their vehicles. In the aftermath, this headline led the front page of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: How did this happen?. The city's repeated, winter-storm transportation crises have impact beyond commuters and schoolchildren. In fact, as the snow picked up. The snowstorm and its aftermath paralyzed metro Atlanta for days. While ice storms arent too rare in Georgia, this one was one of the most catastrophic. Example: Picture of vehicle before accident or anything else.
