From a Feb. 3 press release: Gov. Nathan Deal today announced immediate reforms for how the state communicates with Georgians when under a winter storm warning; he also named the Governor's Severe Winter Weather Warning and Preparedness Task Force, which will advise on implementation of reforms and suggest short-term and long-term solutions.
“Effective immediately, a storm warning will trigger a message to cell phones in targeted areas, as in the Amber Alert system, and advise against road travel,” said Deal. “We will go one step further with school superintendents by emailing them weather condition updates, so that they have the most up-to-date information when determining whether to close schools.
“We will overhaul the state emergency app with shelter information, alternative transportation routes and other emergency-related information. Lastly, as storms approach, I have ordered Georgia Emergency Management Agency to consult with local meteorologists on current weather modeling and predictions.
“We made reforms after the 2011 storm on how we treat our roads, and because of that, we have more road treatment facilities located in more critical areas. All the equipment and the all supplies in the world won’t help if the trucks can’t get on the roads. We’ve got to communicate quicker and more effectively on the front end to keep as many vehicles off the road as possible.”
From a Jan. 31 city of Atlanta press release: Mayor Kasim Reed today announced a series of proposals to better prepare the City of Atlanta and the metropolitan region to respond to major natural events such as Winter Storm Leon.
The actions will include:
• A comprehensive review of the City of Atlanta’s response to learn what worked and what did not.
• Formation of the Mayor’s Task Force on Weather Preparedness to identify and recommend best practices for emergency preparedness, including a protocol for dismissals during severe weather events.
• Recruitment and hiring of an Atlanta Emergency Management Executive to implement the recommendations of the task force, with direct responsibility for maintaining our readiness and coordinating with regional leaders.
• Request that the City Council appropriate funds to expand pre-treating and de-icing capabilities.
“I am focused on preparing the City of Atlanta for these severe weather crises,” said Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. “I believe these measures will make sure we are coordinated, and have a strong blueprint for us to follow to minimize the impact of severe weather.”
