No one wants to be called “non-essential” but when there’s an ice storm and it means the difference between working late and getting home safely, oh well, what’s the harm of an unintended insult, right?
All non-essential personnel in Habersham County and at Habersham Medical Center have been sent home to wait out the winter storm. Emergency responders and road crews still on the job are on standby, ready to respond in the event of emergencies. There already have been a few. Highway 105 is closed due to icy conditions and an accident involving an overturned car at Jackson Mill Road. There are also reports of an accident with injuries on GA 365 at Level Grove Road. A car swiped a guardrail on Level Grove Road earlier causing minor injuries. There also are reports of downed power lines in south Clarkesville.
All this activity has public safety officials hopping and businesses are closing. Chick-Fil-A in Cornelia shut its doors early. It’s hunker down time in Habersham. This is not the snow storm many had longed for, still, it gives everyone a good excuse to stay home…and you should. Habersham County Sheriff Joey Terrell says ice is covering the roads in various parts of the county and accidents, as you’ve just heard, are starting to happen.
Habersham Emergency Management Agency Director Lynn Smith says county crews are trying to stay ahead of the trouble. “We’ve had crews out on the roads treating those spots that we know are areas of concern. We’ve got 4-wheel drives ready. All the departments have been communicating with each other and we’re just trying to, each one of us, stay in touch with the other one and let each other know what’s going on.”
For all the planning and preparation it’s best not to have life-threatening emergencies. Smith strongly urges everyone in Habersham to stay home. “If you don’t have to be on the roads, stay off. It’s only going to get worse as the day progresses. Right now the sleet is suppposed to be turning to the freezing rain which causes the black ice. The temperatures will drop tonight below freezing so there will be patches of ice everywhere in the morning. Obviously, that causes wrecks because you can’t see it. If you don’t have to be out just stay at home, shelter in place and just stay there until it’s over with.”
Temperatures are expected to rise above freezing tomorrow and according to Smith, Wednesday will be a much better day. But that’s not all this winter storm has in store. Temperatures are expected to plummet Thursday with record lows approaching single digits. Whatever water remains at that point will freeze again and there is a 40% chance of sleet and snow Friday.
Keep your cellphone, tablet and computer batteries charged. Now Habersham will continue to bring you news and weather updates on the winter storm as it passes through our region.
