It is a very rare site to see the gates of Oakland Cemetery closed during the day, as the public park is open from dawn until dusk 365 days a year.
But entry has been barred since Monday due to Irma, the tropical storm that brought many parts of metro Atlanta to a standstill early this week.
Cemetery sexton Sam Reed surveyed the grounds Tuesday. Broken limbs hang in tree branches, and debris litters the sidewalks.
Foruntately, the tombstones and fixtures on the grounds were not damaged, he said. The cemetery houses the graves of former mayors Maynard Jackson and Ivan Allen Jr., six Georgia governors and Margaret Mitchell.
“Everything’s OK, it’s just pretty messed up and nasty,” he said.
The cemetery is operated by the city, which remained closed Tuesday. Reed, an essential city employee who had to work, couldn’t get the grounds cleaned up on his own to open the gates.
“Until I can get employees in, it’s better to stay on the safe side,” said the cemetery manager, who knows people like to walk their dogs through the park.
Oakland Cemetery will open at dawn Wednesday.
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