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Deal: State Is ‘Ahead Of The Game’ With Snow Prep

February 11th, 2014

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal says the state is “ahead of the game” in preparing for this week’s predicted snow and ice.As heard on the radio

Standing in front of salt and gravel trucks Monday at a Georgia Department of Transportation outpost in Atlanta, Deal said road conditions Tuesday could be “iffy,” though he expects the weather to worsen in the late evening and overnight.

“Going into Wednesday appears to be the time that we are going to be in most jeopardy of ice forming either from freezing rain or sleet itself,” Deal said.

The governor said there’s no concrete timeline for road treatment ahead of the possible storm. He said the type of treatment depends on weather specifics, like temperature and prior rainfall, and those aren’t known yet.

Deal said drivers should keep in mind conditions could worsen as the day progresses.

“People say, ‘Oh, well, it’s just raining today,’ or maybe it’s cold rain. And that very well could be what we have,” Deal said. “I think that should not be an indication that what is going to follow is not going to be serious material in terms of ice and snow.”

The governor said the state will not treat every lane on the interstates for ice and snow. Rather, the goal will be to keep two lanes operational and then move to other highly traveled state roads.

The National Weather Service’s winter storm watch begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday and extends to Thursday morning.