The city's repeated, winter-storm transportation crises have impact beyond commuters and schoolchildren. Others ran out of gas. 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. Please select one of the following: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Take a look at our photo gallery above and enjoy the snow-free day ahead -- FOX 5 Storm Team's Joanne Feldman says there will be a few morning showers southeast of town, but sunshine comes back this afternoon. ATLANTA Remember Snowmageddon, aka Snowpocalypse, in 2014? Reed noted that having everyone get on the roads at the same time was a mistake. Whatever you called the snow storm of January 2011, you no doubt remember being stuck at home from Sunday night until mid-week. 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. Many clients believe that if another appraiser gives them a higher initial estimate, the settlement amount will be equally high. Peachtree City But then I got my composure. Many schools and businesses closed in the late morning and early afternoon. There were other bright spots. 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. Do you have any other information you'd like to provide us? Also called Snowpocalypse, Jan. 28, 2014, is far from forgotten by the metro Atlantans who lived through it. A lot of us watched the game, because we couldn't leave the house. Winter Storm Leon, which left about two inches of snow covering the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama, hit Atlanta particularly hard. Even Al Roker is chiming in on the mess, heavily criticizing Atlanta's mayor and Georgia's governor for the second winter storm to cripple the city in just 3 years. Whatever you called the snow storm. Snowmageddon in Atlanta 2011. 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. 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. 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. ATLANTA There are bad commutes, and then there is what happened here this week. Questions? Some people had to abandoned their cars or sleep in them. "I have no doubt it's having a serious impact on goods moving broadly across the Southeast. The slick roads caused spinouts and wrecks across metro Atlanta and north Georgia. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Temperatures plummeted, causing pipes to burst, homes to flood, and transformers to break. The forecast path of the storm changed. And again during "Snow Jam 1982," a storm that hit in January of that year. We can never promise that we will always be correct when it comes to deciding what Mother Nature will do.. There was a lot of lesson-learned soul-searching after Snowmageddon 2011. She fought a headache and hunger, trying not to focus on going to the bathroom and rationing her water. Jon Stewart of "The Daily Show" played a clip of Georgia governor Nathan Deal saying the scope of the snowstorm could not have been predicted, then a clip of a Weather Channel meteorologist predicting it, while pointing out The Weather Channel is itself located in Atlanta. In late January 2014, just under three inches of snowand, more specifically, the ice that followedcrippled metro Atlanta, shutting down the region's economy and forcing people to sleep in. The sea of vehicles on the roadway showed signs of clearing by Jan. 30. One of the most infamous winter storms in Atlanta history was dubbed Snowmageddon, and it took place on January 28, 2014. We would have shut a major city down for a day, he said. It's about to begin! Another big change, the state installed a network of road sensors across Georgia providing a precise measurement closely monitored by Severe Weather Team 2, the state, and GDOT. Georgia typically only sees two snowy days per year, though sometimes, there can be slightly more in the northernmost parts of the state. A paralyzing January storm blew through the metro Atlanta area in 2014, catching many residents -- and officials -- off guard. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. Love Georgia? Thousands of flights were canceled because of the winter weather. Kids slept in their schools when no one could pick them up. Wynter Mariah Dobbins. This time around, all of the other factors were exacerbated by people driving too fast for conditions. The merit of those in the South showed themselves over and over again. Copyright 2020 WBRC. . "So much of the freight industry is based on just-in-time arrangements," he said. Seven things to look for when choosing an appraisal company. No one could travel out of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and the delays caused a ripple effect. Local Storm Reports The snowstorm and its aftermath paralyzed metro Atlanta for days. Nationwide He said the city's response was better than after "Snowmageddon 2011," the winter storm that paralyzed the Atlanta metro that year. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. Peachtree City, GA4 Falcon DrivePeachtree City, GA 30269770.486.1133Comments? Even beaches were coated with snow and ice. National Once frozen over, the metros interstates turned into parking lots. Mr. Reed, who was combative in news media briefings, said many of the problems had occurred on state roads. Be prepared the next time winter weather strikes metro Atlanta by following us on Facebook and downloading the Severe Weather Team 2 app. Observations NewsChopper 2 got a bird's-eye view of the frozen carnage on Georgia's interstates, showing hundreds of abandoned cars. ATLANTA Some people called it Snowmageddon, others called it Snowpocalypse, thankfully very few people called it snOMG. Get more stories delivered right to your email. The real problem, he said, was a vast and unexpected flow of people who took to the roads at nearly the same time. Jerome Golden, 50, had flown to Atlanta from Los Angeles on a business trip and was driving to a hotel when he got stuck in the traffic jam. Get Prepared, Additional Info You know, that time when commuters, schools and businesses all let out at the same time, causing gridlock. DOT Commissioner Keith Golden said many of the department's road-clearing crews were stationed in communities east and south of the Atlanta metro area. Unable to get to a bathroom, she did what she had to do as she drove. We crippled transportation across the country. Sometimes youll find real beauty in a fresh snowfall, the silence of a blizzard, or the delicate touch of a snowflake on your face. People stuck at home got really creative. Tanner suggested Stewart and some of the other comedians come to Gadsden to see how they prepare for tornado weather, which is more common in the South than the ice accretion event that set off the Snowpocalypse.. When a light snow started falling early Tuesday afternoon, Saquana Bonaparte, 31, left her factory job and headed out to get her daughter from school in one of the citys northern suburbs. That said, areas along and just south of the Interstate 20 corridor of East Central Georgia still received ice totals not seen in decades. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Record low temperatures and wind chills has us thinking about the week that Atlantans stayed home, watched TV and waited for the ice to melt. The city was more prepared than it had ever been, he said. He said there should be a staggered schedule of releases: Students leave first, then private business employees and finally government workers. 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. Please Contact Us. Deal is there to congratulate him. 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. She sent messages to Facebook and took calls and advice from friends and family. Matthew Miller offered free peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and hot drinks to drivers stuck in traffic on Atlanta's Southbound Connector on Wednesday. This amazing. All rights reserved. Even Gov. Usually, the snow melts after a day or two along with the resolve to prevent a recurrence. 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. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. 7 Gorgeous Frozen Waterfalls In Georgia That Must Be Seen To Be Believed, Here Are The 5 Best Places To Go Sled Riding In Georgia This Winter, The Charming Small Town In Georgia Where You Can Still Experience An Old-Fashioned Christmas, This Trail In Georgia Will Lead You To Extraordinary Ancient Ruins, The Magnificent Farmhouse Rental In Georgia That Gets Decked Out For The Holidays, The Giant Ice Skating Rink In Georgia Avalon On Ice, Is A Winter Dream Come True, This Georgia Christmas Town Is Straight Out Of A Norman Rockwell Painting, Not Everyone Knows The State Botanical Garden Of Georgia Puts On A Dazzling Holiday Light Display. Considering that Georgia isnt exactly a place thats always prepared for severe winter weather, this historic winter storm in GA changed the lives of everyone who experienced it (and lived to tell the tale). Local, Forecasts Insurance companies know who the legitimate appraisers are, so don't get caught up in the estimate game. It was not, and there were a number of contributing factors: Metro Atlanta was caught flatfooted. Its sad for Americas 9th largest metro area to fall into chaos over 2.5 inches of fluffy snow. About 1,500 passengers who could not get flights out spent the night at the airport, said Hartsfield-Jackson spokesman Reese McCranie. I was like if I dont get home to my parents, like, Im going to freak out, one student said. And in Birmingham, Darshay Jones, 24, went into labor early Wednesday. State and local officials expected the brunt of the storm to hit south and east of Atlanta; when it started snowing in communities in west and north Atlanta, schools, businesses and government offices started closing. Theyre able to pre-position their resources to be able to treat the roads when it happens as opposed to being reactive. The first moved in early Tuesday morning on the 11th bringing 2 to 5 inches snow to areas roughly north of a Rome to Gainesville line. Nationwide 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. Forecast Discussion 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. 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. ATLANTA - Thursday marks the two-year anniversary of "Snowmageddon2014" and we are happy to report there are no signs of wintry weather in Atlanta's forecast! 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. Which Georgia ice storm was the worst? Not to mention the mess on I-285 where dozens of tractor trailers remained for several days. It was like something you would see if they told you the plague broke out and you had to run for your life, she said. Some of the most historic blizzards in Georgia go down in the books as truly remarkable and wholly unforgettable. The storm that hit the south crippled Atlanta for most of the week. Thankfully, Atlanta hasn't experienced anything likeSnowmageddon, also referred to as "Snowpocalypse," since 2014. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. One of the most infamous winter storms in Atlanta history was dubbed Snowmageddon, and it took place on January 28, 2014. Atlanta Snowmageddon 2014 - Car Accidents and Appraisals / Car Appraisal Blog / By Diminished Value Car . Another thing we learned, according to Tanner, was to have points of contact available, as well as contacts for the second person and third person in charge, three deep as he says. We cannot provide any kind of advice, explanation, opinion, or recommendation about possible legal rights, taxes, remedies, defenses, options, selection of forms or strategies. The ambulance that was headed their way crashed. The rare Southern winter storm stretched to Brownsville, Texas. Many abandoned their cars and just walked home. They called it Snowpocalyopse. By 6 p.m., metro Atlanta roadways were at a standstill and motorists who thought they would be home in a few hours were stuck on the interstates. 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. When Was Snowmageddon Atlanta? A New Jersey native with over 15 years of writing experience, Marisa has studied at both New York University and Florida International University. By early Tuesday, Deal said, Atlanta meteorologists predicted a storm path farther north, but the governor said storm plans were made on the earlier forecasts from the National Weather Service. Please visit our do I qualify page to learn more. StormReady He had only a quarter of a cookie someone shared with him to eat. Because Atlanta is such a vital air transportation hub, the storm walloped operations at the world's busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Robert Puentes, a transportation expert at the Brookings Institution, says the region's paralyzed road transportation network hammers the shipment of goods through Atlanta. Computer Models Local Anyone can read what you share. Jon Stewart Made All The Easy Southern Jokes While Eviscerating Atlanta's Snowmageddon Last Night. Here are 12 things we remember about it. The snow fell. 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. ", Reed defended his handling of the situation, arguing, "We got 1 million people out of the city of Atlanta in about 12 hours." Example: Picture of vehicle before accident or anything else. One of the biggest stories to impact Georgians in recent years was Snowmageddon, which happened nearly nine years ago this month. 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. Sonny Perdue declared a state of emergency, No one could travel out of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Checks from Georgias $1 BILLION tax rebate are starting to hit bank accounts, No. Elected officials declared that their departments were unprepared for that storm but will put systems in place for the next time. 5 Comments / By Andy Darnell / January 9, 2012 January 9, 2012. 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. These two back-to-back ice storms in 2014 led to more than seven days of emergency declarations, and effectively kept people in their homes. She has lived all over the country, including a decade stint in South Florida. Blame game heats up in Atlanta's winter nightmare. There was never and has never since been a blizzard in GA that had the ferocity of the 1993 disaster, and its unlikely that itll repeat itself often, if at all. This time last year we were preparing for snowmageddon in Atlanta. And we found heroes were among all of us. However, the blizzard most commonly referred to as the worst blizzard in Georgia history was the incredible storm of 1993, dropping 20 inches of snow and killing at least 300. Twice. Commuters wouldnt have missed much if they fell asleep in their cars. 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. 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. Share with us your thoughts in the comments section! When Auburn plays in the BCS Championship the weather is going to get bad. 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. Although the. Hire an appraiser based on their credentials and reputation. Drivers take refuge inside a local store as roads become too slick to drive on. Georgia Road Conditions Vehicles can sustain structural damage when improperly towed or pulled, to determine if such damage exists take your vehicle to the closest body shop or dealer for an inspection. Also, there is more pre-treatment of the states roads. Shareholder's Report You might be interested in the seven natural wonders of Georgia, then! At least two babies were born during the storm, one with the help of a Sandy Springs police officer who got to a woman who was giving birth in a car on Interstate 285 and helped her husband deliver the baby, named Grace, as in by the grace of God.. But some folks still were able to have a little fun. Channel 2 Action News is taking a look at the biggest events in Georgia history as WSB-TV celebrates its 75th anniversary. Our Office. It makes you very emotional after a while, she said. Workers slept in the aisles at CVS. We made a mistake by not staggering when people should leave, so Ill take responsibility for that, he said. Research This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. Thankfully, blizzards in Georgia are rare. Ice and snow coated Charleston, S.C., Augusta, Ga., New Orleans and dozens of other Southern communities ill-equipped to deal with it. Recreational Forecast 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. And on Wednesday, Mayor Kasim Reed and Gov. They can be proactive on that, Lanxton said. Jammed-packed interstate in Downtown Atlanta, photo from AJC photographer John Spink. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist, Mike Luckovich, depicted Deal and Reed responding to the snowfall by making snow angels. Pictures taken in the early evening already showed the chaos. If damage is found, you may be entitled to Diminished Value. But nothing compared to the Atlanta experience, which began when many of the citys residents took to the roads from noon to 2 p.m. This dry slot caused precipitation to break up across much of the area late Wednesday morning through the afternoon. Temperatures had been in the 60s just two days earlier, then the temperatures suddenly dropped and two inches fell in a short period of time when a light dusting had been predicted for later in the day. "We did an excellent job of communicating with our local partners to let them know what was going on, but even as well as the communication was, there were still folks that were still stuck at work or they were stuck at school," Tanner says. 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. A snowfall that began after midnight brought the entire city to a standstill, with cars trapped on the interstate and ice blanketing the streets. And the babys name? After waiting another 10 minutes or so I crack my window open and attempt to talk to the office who was not in a good mood (understandably), he ignores me for a few minutes but then angrily approaches and informs me that they ran out of salt. 600 total flights in two days. Education and Outreach Your access to the website is subject to our, Atlanta Snowmageddon 2014 Car Accidents and Appraisals, How Subaru Became a Leader in Subcompact SUVs, Auto Market Update Week Ending Apr 22, 2023, Auto Incentives and Rebates Week Ending Apr 29, 2023, The Updated List of EV Models Eligible for Tax Credits in the US, 2021 Honda Pilot Loss in Value Case Study, Tesla Sales Growth Slows Despite Price Cuts, Poor coordination between the multiple jurisdictions covering the Atlanta Metro Area, The school systems decided to have a school day, Poor preparation from the Georgia Department of Transportation, Poor preparation from the various cities and municipalities, Lack of resources and competent personnel, People were let go from their jobs all at the same time. He was awakened by a gentle knock on his window. Reporting and analysis from the Hill and the White House, The Souths disastrous response to the winter storm, in pictures, Why Gov. Dalton, Ga., Mayor David Pennington, who's running against Deal for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, said, "Government's primary role is to protect the people; Nathan Deal has failed miserably once again. Some people had to abandon their cars or sleep in them overnight. Strangers invited him to their apartment for a bowl of oatmeal. Would you rather collect 80% of an accurate appraisal or 20% of an inflated one? The January 28, 2014 snowstorm crippled metro Atlanta for almost a week and caused extreme chaos on the city's main interstates and highways. [SIGN UP:Get breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox]. Winter weather can be a tricky thing. Satellite Images When Auburn kicks off against Florida State metro Atlanta temperatures will be in the teens. In all, six Southern states declared emergencies. Graphical "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. This might simply be Atlanta's fate in winter storms: The city was also brought to a standstill in a winter storm in 1993. But Channel 2 Sports Director Zach Klein did a decent job sledding in Piedmont Park. Snowmageddon, 2014. 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. A night removed from The State of the Union, . . It played out again when "Snowmageddon 2011 . Snow and ice on roads near Georgia State University in downtown Atlanta. This weekend temperatures will be in the 60's for parts of north Georgia! The next storm was supposed to be different. Flickr Tommy Byrd. And then the reports that have become the worst fears from parents during winter weather. The roads iced over mid-day on a weekday when people were trying to make their way home. 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. In the days leading up to the storm, forecasters said the brunt of it would hit south of the city. All NOAA. I was super scared. Ben Gray/Atlanta Journal-Constitution, via Associated Press. Tell us your stories in the comments! With the upcoming snow predicted, we decided to take a look back at the mess across metro Atlanta. 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. Atlanta is such an important hub when it comes to goods movement.". Leave a comment on ourFOX 5 Atlanta Facebook page, tweet us at @FOX5StormTeam, or tag us on Instagramat @FOX5Atlanta. I knew it was time to get down and dirty.. FAQs What Atlanta's snowmageddon teaches us about . Many motorists left their vehicles on the side of the road as they ran out of gas or simply couldnt bare the frustration, towing companies were towing vehicles non-stop to their yards. One man even walked 6 miles to spend the night with his daughter, who was stuck at school. Two rounds of precipitation occurred with this event. Dozens, if not hundreds, of vehicles were left. Its impossible to drive right now. Children stuck on a school bus many hours after they were supposed to be home safe. Warner Robins "And if I'm responsible for it, I'll accept that. ATLANTA Remember Snowmageddon, aka Snowpocalypse, in 2014? "When you get two snowstorms every three years, it's easier to take that approach," he says. WRONG! That led to Too many people hitting the roads at the same time. The conditions led to crashes all over the place. Nathan Deal and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed face withering scrutiny over their handling of the weather emergency. Marisa is well-versed in exploration as she travels a good majority of the year in her self-converted Sprinter van. Her articles have been featured in various notable publications over the years, she has a published collection of short stories, and three completed screenplays under her belt. By late Wednesday afternoon, some people remained stuck on the Interstate, but the hundreds of children who had been forced to spend the night at school had made it home. Atlanta hasn't even thawed out yet but the blame game has already started. 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 raises the question: Is Atlanta simply destined to quit functioning every time it gets a few inches of snow? Rainfall 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. By the time the precipitation wrapping around the back side of the upper low pressure area ended late Wednesday night in north Georgia, a large area of 2 to 4 inches of snow had fallen roughly north of I-20 and ice accumulations of 1/4 to over 1/2 inch near Atlanta and amounts over 3/4 of an inch all along the I-20 east corridor towards Augusta (see accumulation map). erie otters promotional schedule, kibana alerts example, strength and weaknesses of rizal as a student,