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The fallout from the winter storm is well underway and Emergency Services are still working throughout the county. Troup County EMA Director, Zac Steele said their work started as the first flurries came down yesterday afternoon, but will not end for some time. 

“A little after three, we started to see major travel impacts from the accumulations starting to hit the ground,” Steele said. “With the road temperatures already being below freezing prior to the snow, travel impacts were affected immediately, and that forced us into a quick emergency response.”

Steele said in just a three-hour timeline, the city of LaGrange and Troup County answered the call for 64 vehicle accidents. Some accidents included multiple vehicles. 

“Whitaker Road that runs between GA-109 and Cameron Mill created a small pile up there, where I believe they answered at least 10 vehicle accident calls on that one road,” Steele said.

Steele’s message for Troup County residents was consistent: “If you don’t have to travel, please don’t.”

His team works with state and local partners to make decisions on travel and public safety during emergency situations.

“What we try to do is supplement the resources out there,” Steele explained. “If we need to call in additional staff, reroute people, we do that. But the biggest thing we realized quickly was we needed more help, and so we were trying to call in additional firefighters and law enforcement officers as well as Emergency Medical Technician staff.”

First responders are often in the same types of vehicles as commuters, which reduces response time. Steele says that for their safety, they have to go slow on the roads to avoid becoming another call to 911. He adds that they are taking and responding to calls, but it may take longer than usual. Ensuring Emergency staff can respond quickly and safely is another reason to stay inside and off the roads, Steele said.

While the call volume has decreased slightly this morning, the travel advisory is still in place. 

“The road conditions are not going to improve with the temperatures slated to be what they are there,” Steele said. “With the amount of precipitation that’s on the roadway itself, temperatures below freezing…if it does thaw and refreezes, we’re going to see at least the same impact for over 24 hours, if not even longer.”

Steele didn’t know of anyone still stranded on the roads this morning; however, late last night, many cars were abandoned on the roadways.

“There was a lot of parking and walking just for people to try to get home,” he said. 

EMA makes all emergency recommendations to the county, who must approve it. Yesterday, the Board of Commissioners issued a local state of emergency.

“We took into consideration the state of emergency issued by Governor Kemp the day before, and then once we realized that our local resources were overwhelmed quickly,” Steele said. 

“[I made] the recommendation to county manager Eric Mosley and Board of Commissioners Chairman Patrick Crews, to declare a local state of emergency…which allows us to try to deter people from traveling if they don’t have to.”

The response to this unique weather event is ongoing. 

“The emergency response continues…We’re trying to find any way we can to improve this but until the temperatures get above freezing and we get to where we can actually get some work done, it’s going to be tough to get this roadway improved. So once again, the message remains consistent. If you don’t have to travel, please don’t.”

According to Steele, “Roads are being treated on major state highways and roads by GDOT, but all county roads should be considered dangerous for travel until further notice.”