On Jan. 28, 2014 a combination of frigid air and precipitation around metro Atlanta quickly turned our roads into sheets of ice by early afternoon.
With the news of the weather, thousands of motorists headed for home at once. The result was a scene from a horror movie, with cars gridlocked for miles or abandoned along highways and surface streets.
It was also the day when parents with kids in Fulton County Schools wondered why such a huge district - which spans 70 miles south of Atlanta to my area in north Milton – could so blatantly blow the call. When kids were finally dismissed roads were perilous and many students ended up stuck in buses or schools until evening.
Credit: BEN GRAY / AJC
Credit: BEN GRAY / AJC
Some argue this was a rare weather event, so why worry. I would hope that between today’s unpredictable weather patterns and global security threats, the public would be more concerned about emergencies.
“We dropped the ball,” said Shannon Flounnory, recently hired executive director of Safety and Security for Fulton County Schools. “I want parents to know I don’t take anything for granted. The district is in good hands, and we are very prepared.”
Earlier in his career Flounnory served in the military and law enforcement, and was an experienced elementary school principal when Snowjam 2014 arrived. He was one of the many principals who spent the night at school calming students.
Credit: DAVID TULIS / AJC Special
Credit: DAVID TULIS / AJC Special
In his new job Flounnory oversees school police, student health services, emergency-preparedness and risk management. This includes the district’s Emergency Operations Center, built after the storm and featuring high-tech tools and a more centralized command structure.
The EOC ties into state and federal agencies, measuring vital data and video feeds of severe weather and security threats. If risk is present, EOC goes into ready mode and a core team of district leadership initiates protocol.
This includes collaborating with school leaders, city managers and municipal law enforcement utilizing state-of-the-art communication tools, Flounnory said. Since the team practices tabletop drills of mock disaster scenarios, he is certain they have rock solid plans in place for all emergencies.
Flounnory explained that if a weather issue is brewing the EOC team starts a series of conference calls throughout the night and early morning. Their assessment will go to the superintendent, who will communicate a decision to parents.
School will be cancelled if the team perceives a threat in even one area of the large district. “If we cannot definitively conclude there will not be a hazard, we will call school,” he said, and urges parents to ensure all school emergency contact information is updated.
Ready Georgia, the state’s new system for citizen emergency preparation includes a free interactive app with traffic, weather and emergency alerts created by the Georgia Emergency Management Agency/Homeland Security.
Information: www.ready.ga.gov.
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