Mayor’s Office of Communications
55 Trinity Avenue, Suite 2500 • Atlanta, Georgia 30303
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 9, 2017
News Release
Mayor Kasim Reed Urges City of Atlanta Residents to Remain Cautious During Ongoing Winter Weather Event
ATLANTA – Mayor Kasim Reed today urged City of Atlanta residents and those traveling throughout the city to continue to use caution and avoid unnecessary travel while City and State crews remain engaged in treating and clearing roadways. The City’s Joint Operations Center will remain open at this time as the City continues to respond and monitor conditions. The Winter Weather Advisory has been lifted for the City of Atlanta.
“The City of Atlanta is fully engaged in responding to the ongoing winter weather event,” said Mayor Reed. “We have coordinated closely with the State of Georgia and our local partners, including school systems and the private sector employers. I am relieved that our residents and daytime workers made it home safely yesterday, and today we ask that the public avoid unnecessary travel until both City and State crews have been able to fully treat and clear roadways. Our Public Works crews have been working overnight, in 12-hour shifts, treating and re-treating priority roadways and bridges, and have treated 3,600 total miles of roadway. More than 100 people sought shelter in our emergency warming center at Central Park Recreation Center last night. The facility will remain open throughout the weekend for those in need. We ask that that our residents and travelers continue to be patient and use caution, as well as sign up for the NotifyATL notification system.”
The City’s emergency warming shelter remains open at the Central Park Recreation Center at 400 Merrits Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA 30308.
Department of Public Works (DPW) crews have been working overnight since Thursday, December 6 to treat and retreat all Priority 1 and 2 roadways. Areas around hospitals, public safety facilities and hotels have all been treated. Crews will continue to prioritize retreating main thoroughfares and secondary roadways where hills and other hazardous conditions exist. In total, DPW crews applied more than 2,100 tons of salt and over 6,150 gallons of brine to bridges and roadways.
The Department of Parks and Recreation’s Forestry crews and the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department have responded to 20 reports of downed trees and power lines. Crews remain on call to respond to any future incidents. Dial 911 to report downed trees.
Downed power lines pose a serious health and safety hazard, and residents should assume lines are live until they have been shut off by Georgia Power. Residents should report downed power lines to Georgia Power Customer Service at 1-888-660-5890.
The Department of Watershed Management has not reported any broken water mains at this time.
The winter weather event has impacted some City operations. The Department of Parks and Recreation has canceled weekend recreation activities. The Atlanta Streetcar will continue to suspend service until 2 p.m. this afternoon, unless icy conditions persist. The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) is operating bus and rail service on a normal schedule.
The City continues to coordinate closely with local, state and private sector partners.
The City encourages residents and motorists to follow these guidelines to ensure their safety and prepare for inclement winter weather conditions:
- Sign up for NotifyATL at http://www.atlantaga.gov/notfiyatl.
- Maintain awareness by following local media coverage and monitoring the City’s social media channels, including @CityofAtlanta and @ATLPreparedness on Twitter and Facebook.
- Plan ahead and allow extra time to reach destinations.
- Make sure you have the proper emergency equipment in your car and home such as batteries for cell phones and chains for vehicle tires.
- When driving in icy road conditions, the shortest route is not always the safest. Consider less hilly routes to reach your destination.
- Drive slowly. The faster you are driving, the longer it takes to stop the vehicle.
- When traveling on foot, exercise caution on public sidewalks and private walkways.
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For more information about the City of Atlanta, please visit http://www.atlantaga.gov or watch City Channel 26. Follow the City of Atlanta on Facebook and Twitter @CityofAtlanta. Follow Mayor Reed on Facebook and Twitter @Kasim Reed