Ice storm hits; more coming!

[Travels with Yoly]

The next morning after the big Atlanta snowstorm

[rowerwet]

you call THAT snow?!

[Wanna Be]

you call THAT snow?!

That looks more like A heavy frost

[Wolffarmer]

Looks like October

[Mary C]

Ok, so it wasn't much snow in Atlanta but it was enough to cause havoc with the roads. Cops said that only one of eight backups were caused by cars crashing the rest were tractor trailers that could not get up the hills, made turns or just jack knifing. one of those hills had sand and salt but the trucks could not make it up. . One thing we have over a lot of places is very steep hills the other thing is people go too fast because most "know how to drive on snow". Atlantas biggest problem were the tractor trailers, and everyone going home at the same time. Combining all of that and crash!!! My friend says now she understands the remark I made last year about the fact our snow is different, something about it, she grew up with 8 to 10 inches of snow on the roads 3 to 8 times during the winter and she was completely surprised about our snow she couldn't understand why she was having so much trouble, finally she parked the car and got out and said she could hardly walk. We went from no snow, dry pavement to impassable within 2 hours. and like the mayor said put one million cars out on the roadways and the sand and salt trucks couldn't get to the streets. I lived here in 1982 during the other snowstorm that so mimics this one. my husband was at a waffle house for 12 hours. Everyone left work at the same time then too. That day we had more snow in a shorter time. If there were not as many hills there wouldn't have been quite as many problems but drivers forget about going up hill on ice. I really feel for those people stuck. It must have been terrifying for those stuck in cars for so long. So I can live with the nasty remarks about our going home, closing of school and "seeing one snowflake and sending the kids home and all the rest of the jokes about how we southerners react to snow. after my friend said that I was right about the snow in GA and that it was different and lordy there are some mighty steep hills she had not realized we had. I told her that once in 22 years this snow jam happens and when they say snow, maybe, my philosophy is stay home!!! Now everyone knows that if there is a forecast of snow to just stay home. incidentally only one or two of the news casters were here for the 1982 snow jam. I think people need to take more responsibility for themselves and be prepared for getting stuck on the side of the road for any reason. Things like keeping a half of tank of gas and food and blankets and water in your car at all times. I keep 3 days medicine with me at all times. a first aid kit with scissors. 2 changes of clothes. I have been stuck and there was always a oh why didn't i have this or that. I write it down and that is something I put in the car when i get home. My car may be full of stuff and maybe I wont need any of it. but the three bottles of water under the seat has come in handy for thirsty dogs, washing hands and putting a little water in the radiator, to give to a thirsty person on the road. Incidentally, what happened to common sense? Thanks for letting me vent. It is just the past three days have been so horrible for some of my friends.

Mary C.

[Wolffarmer]

Did we ever really have common sense?

There is a difference in snow. Nice dry snow on cold earth is not bad at all. If it hasn't been packed down it is about like driving on gravel. Wet snow falling on ground just above freezing and then the temps drop and more wet snow. Slicker than butter on a brass door knob. Then add some people that really are not use to it. And tires not meant for it. And worn out tires "I can get by until spring". And shipping dispatchers who don't care what the conditions are, "Get that load there or you are setting idle for 2 days in backwater Idaho".
And of course Georgia does not have a lot of equipment for removal no matter how much warning they get and just like war. When the battle starts all plans are no longer relevant.

Randy

[legojenn]

Ok, so it wasn't much snow in Atlanta but it was enough to cause havoc with the roads. Cops said that only one of eight backups were caused by cars crashing the rest were tractor trailers that could not get up the hills, made turns or just jack knifing. one of those hills had sand and salt but the trucks could not make it up. . One thing we have over a lot of places is very steep hills the other thing is people go too fast because most "know how to drive on snow". Atlantas biggest problem were the tractor trailers, and everyone going home at the same time. Combining all of that and crash!!! My friend says now she understands the remark I made last year about the fact our snow is different, something about it, she grew up with 8 to 10 inches of snow on the roads 3 to 8 times during the winter and she was completely surprised about our snow she couldn't understand why she was having so much trouble, finally she parked the car and got out and said she could hardly walk. We went from no snow, dry pavement to impassable within 2 hours. and like the mayor said put one million cars out on the roadways and the sand and salt trucks couldn't get to the streets. I lived here in 1982 during the other snowstorm that so mimics this one. my husband was at a waffle house for 12 hours. Everyone left work at the same time then too. That day we had more snow in a shorter time. If there were not as many hills there wouldn't have been quite as many problems but drivers forget about going up hill on ice. I really feel for those people stuck. It must have been terrifying for those stuck in cars for so long. So I can live with the nasty remarks about our going home, closing of school and "seeing one snowflake and sending the kids home and all the rest of the jokes about how we southerners react to snow. after my friend said that I was right about the snow in GA and that it was different and lordy there are some mighty steep hills she had not realized we had. I told her that once in 22 years this snow jam happens and when they say snow, maybe, my philosophy is stay home!!! Now everyone knows that if there is a forecast of snow to just stay home. incidentally only one or two of the news casters were here for the 1982 snow jam. I think people need to take more responsibility for themselves and be prepared for getting stuck on the side of the road for any reason. Things like keeping a half of tank of gas and food and blankets and water in your car at all times. I keep 3 days medicine with me at all times. a first aid kit with scissors. 2 changes of clothes. I have been stuck and there was always a oh why didn't i have this or that. I write it down and that is something I put in the car when i get home. My car may be full of stuff and maybe I wont need any of it. but the three bottles of water under the seat has come in handy for thirsty dogs, washing hands and putting a little water in the radiator, to give to a thirsty person on the road. Incidentally, what happened to common sense? Thanks for letting me vent. It is just the past three days have been so horrible for some of my friends.

Mary C.

I feel bad for people who live in areas that don't get lots of snow and cold who have to endure a snowstorm. Cars registered here in Quebec are obligated to have winter tires on our cars from December 15 to March 15. It makes a difference when climbing hills and trying to stop the vehicle. The province and municipalities are busy salting before the storm comes. We can't park on the streets if there is more than 4 inches of snow coming. The snow clearing is happening as the snow is falling and there are priorities for freeways, and arterial roads. It's a drill and we are used to it. When something happens once every 30 years, it's hard to be prepared. I hope that nobody died down there.

[Mary C]

Thanks Jenn and Randy, I just feel so awful for all the people who spent so many cold, freezing hours in cars and when Al on the Today show said what he did, that just hurt knowing he did not know all the facts, and having lived her for so long I know at 9:00am I was wondering why they didn't take the kids right back home. So many things, they could not until parents were notified. the lunch room lady said it took an hour to serve lunch then they let the kids out but by then it was 11:30 They told the kids that had cars to go straight home and stay there until contacted by their parents. some Adult came down the hill where the school driveway is and had an accident with a farmer and was determined to not move their car till the police got there. my friend pulled out and sorta pushed her way through by that time the roads were getting slick.
The schools have to notify the parents or someone before they can put a child on a bus and take them home. they had to wait for some parents to be notified, there were all sorts of problems, but because of that the buses left later and slid, got stuck and we had many many kids stuck on buses too. I will admit I as a parent would not have sent my child to school on the information I had at 11:00pm Monday nite. It was too iffy, if the prognostication would have changed by Bus time and if you live around here things have a way of changing too rapidly. I am just so heart broken and NOW the European models show another line of snow for Atlanta on Saturday and of course the national weather service is saying no. so.....again wait and see. I am going to the grocery store for a couple of items tomorrow or Saturday AM but I can live without. Thanks again,

Mary C.

[Jiminsav]

this pretty much sums it up around here.

[Wolffarmer]

I will never forget the winter of 81-82 here. It started snowing Christmas Eve and did not stop until Feb sometime. It snowed and blew almost ever day. We refer to it as "The year of the tunnels" Roads out in the country where I live got down to one lane and in many places you could not see over the banks. Many intersections you had to stop, get out of your vehicle and go to the front and look left and right for traffic then scurry back and go. The was a bunch of school kids that went to school 2-4 days in Jan. My brother in law broke his leg and after they got him home it snowed and blew for another day or so and the road department had to open that road up. They did it with a front end loader and it took most of the day to do 3/4 of a mile. And I only had a 2 wheel drive Datsun pickup then. One morning I looked out of the house and all I could see of it was a tiny bit of a corner of the cab.
And now this winter we have not had any snow to really talk about. The least snow I have ever seen here. No precipitation at all really.

[Martiangod]

I do feel for ya all in the east and south, 30 below here but not much snow, Back home where I moved from they are going through Hell froze over. That whole area has been buried since last Friday, mostly rural but even the highways are under 5 feet of snow.

Everyone do your best to keep warm.....

[rowerwet]

I have a couple friends on FB living in the heart of this storm. One was trying to get home with her four kids, all young, ended up stuck on the highway and had to walk 4 miles to her brothers church. She was there for two days with her kids keeping the church open as a shelter handing out food and water for all the people stuck there. Her brother, the pastor, said it looks like the biggest crowd he's ever had from all the cars in the parking lot. across the street from the church were three more, smashed up in the ditch from sliding down the hill just past the church.
keeping emergency supplies in the car is a must. I got stopped on the highway one time in PA in the middle of the pocono's, two trucks wrecked in a big snow storm, PA highway department just closed the highway and left everyone sitting all night. I was lucky and ended up near an exit. some shoveling allowed me to get off the highway, then I spent two hours crawling around back roads until past the crash. plenty of people were stuck in their cars for the night and most ran out of gas during the night. A blanket, and food at minimum, boots, jacket, tow rope etc. could make a big difference. Most people don't plan for these kinds of things until after it happens to them...

[Wolffarmer]

Any storm that is much more than an area is use is a big thing. Even if what they had in the South this week is not much by mine or anyone else's standards. Many people on the Coleman forums carry a single burner stove with them. I would carry one of those and/or a single mantle lantern. Lanterns provide heat and light. But I would be sure that I am very familiar with their operation and have a way to refuel them safely. If I chose to refuel. ( I would )

Randy

[Mary C]

Great News the weather has changed, Now today 50+ degrees and all the Ice-snow left is only in the very shaded areas. See that is one thing about the weather here, if you don't like it just wait a couple of days, it will change. I now have a better outlook but still aware of the hardships so many had during this storm.

Mary C.

[KCStudly]

We refer to it as "The year of the tunnels" Roads out in the country where I live got down to one lane and in many places you could not see over the banks. Many intersections you had to stop, get out of your vehicle and go to the front and look left and right for traffic then scurry back and go.

On one of my family's cross country summer trips back in the day we stopped somewhere in Minnesota to visit with relatives. I noticed that they, and most other cars in the area had a big tall fiberglass whip attached to their bumper with a bright day-glow orange pendant at the top; must have been ten feet high. When I asked what that was all about the answer was so that they could see other cars coming in the winter. Being a youngster at the time, having been from SoCal originally, and living on the relatively warm coast in CT where a bad storm is only a couple of feet of the white stuff, it kind of stuck in my mind.