Nathan Deal: ‘Take care of yourselves’ — icy roads aren’t going away
Gov. Nathan Deal warned Georgians on Tuesday that the icy conditions that have paralyzed much of the state and its roadways aren’t going away anytime soon.
“The weather has to cooperate in order for us to do what we really need to do. So I would just urge everyone to make sure they take care of themselves, and that they do not put themselves in a position of danger,” a sweatshirted Deal told reporters invited into his meeting with disaster advisers.
Vance Smith, commissioner of the state Department of Transportation (left), Gov. Nathan Deal, and Charley English of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency during a session with reporters. Jim Galloway, jgalloway@ajc.com
“As we all know, ice in the South is the biggest danger we have. One of the good things about it is that the ice has not broken any power lines. Of course, that is always good news. So we have something to be thankful for,” he said.
Deal said he and his advisors were concentrating on the situation faced by those in hard-to-reach pockets.
“We do have some remote parts of our state that are still relatively impassable because there are not major thoroughfares in their area. So we are talking about that,” Deal said.
But the governor, in his second day on the job, refused to respond to any questions.
Attending the meeting with the governor were Col. Bill Hitchens, head of the Georgia State Patrol; Gen. Terry Nesbitt, commander of the National Guard; Vance Smith, commissioner of the state Department of Transportation; and Charley English, director of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency.
One of the questions asked of the new governor was whether it was proper on Monday to devote so much of the state’s force of four-wheel drive vehicles to bringing state lawmakers to the state Capitol to convene the winter session of the General Assembly.
After the news conference, Hitchens told reporters that the state Constitution mandates that a quorum of legislators assemble on the second Monday of January.
Most of the lawmakers, Hitchens said, had only needed a quick ride to and from their downtown Atlanta hotel rooms.
But state officials are sensitive to the topic. Deal said his State of the State address to the Legislature, scheduled for Wednesday morning, had been postponed until 2 p.m. to allow lawmakers more time to get to the state Capitol.
In the following note sent this afternoon, House Speaker David Ralston informed lawmakers that they would be on their own when it came to transportation:
It is not necessary for members to report until 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday to allow time for travel and improvement of road conditions.
The Speaker will convene the House of Representatives at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 12, per the joint adjournment resolution. The House will then stand at recess until 1:00 p.m. The Joint Session of the General Assembly for the Governor’s State of State Address will convene at 2:00 p.m.
Due to weather conditions, please exercise extreme caution and put your personal safety first. No state resources will be available to assist with transportation.
Again, please do not report to House of Representatives until 1:00 p.m.
Staff are advised to exercise caution and stay off the roads if it is unsafe. Stay tuned to local news reports for announcements regarding official closure by the Governor.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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148 comments Add your comment
shirley
January 11th, 2011
3:32 pm
Thanks for keeping us posted on what folks aren’t doing. It helps us decvide to stay put.
gfgfgf
January 11th, 2011
3:47 pm
I need this snow to away, I’m losing my mind stuck in this house
Sonya Rolle
January 11th, 2011
3:48 pm
What about the McDonough area? I haven’t seen any salt trucks on the highway or surface roads.
Chris
January 11th, 2011
3:51 pm
Really good suggestions – not! Was he taken away from watching football? Nice professional look for him.
RDM0999
January 11th, 2011
3:52 pm
We prepared well in advance for this by stocking up on groceries. We also have remote access to work, direct deposit, and online bill pay. Who needs to leave home? LMAO
Thisissomebullsh**
January 11th, 2011
3:53 pm
It makes no sense to me why any city would allow its local economy and school systems to be crippled possibly for days on end rather than investing in equipment to clear the roads. While snowstorms like this one don’t occur every winter, icy roads do. Who is looking out for those electricians, hospital workers, police and fire departments, etc. who have to arrive at work safely because we depend on them in times like this? Where is happening to the tax dollars that are supposed to be used to maintian these roads? Get your head out of the ’50s, Atlanta. Seriously.
Esther
January 11th, 2011
3:54 pm
Really?? That was enlightening. Thanks for sharing.
Matt
January 11th, 2011
3:55 pm
Um, why is the new gov in a sweatshirt and jeans? If you’re going in front of TV cameras and news photographers, can’t we expect a little more effort to look presentable and professional? It’s not like he’s been snowed in the gov’s mansion and unable to dress himself. He has state troopers carting him around.
Janie
January 11th, 2011
3:57 pm
So much sarcasm in the above comments. Thisissomebullsh, you have all the answers, huh, and you are an Atlanta native so you know what you are taking about, right? NOT …
Kevin
January 11th, 2011
3:58 pm
Sorry, but I’m not buying it. I live in Midtown. I haven’t seen one primary or secondary road that has been salted– let alone plowed.
And watching the pile ups all over the Metro, I’m curious just what exactly the DOT has been doing.
They Katrina’d us . . .
sonny
January 11th, 2011
3:59 pm
To the previous 8 post…here’s your chesse to go with your WHINE!!!!
lovebugs720
January 11th, 2011
4:00 pm
What does “the weather” have to do in cooperation? if the weather “cooperates,” the governor and DOT need to do nothing since everything will MELT!
KJ
January 11th, 2011
4:03 pm
Schools allow for missed days, but city and county tax revenues are down, be thankful they’re doing what they can in what is, for all intents and purposes, a 50 year event. Give people a forum to do so, and most will pop in to complain about what isn’t being done or about what the Gov. was wearing. Really? Fashion police need to give it a rest.
Norman
January 11th, 2011
4:03 pm
Why are we concentrating on remote parts of the state? How about clear the streets where most people actually live? If you chose to live with grizzly bears in the mountains, you should invest in your own transportation to get out.
Common John
January 11th, 2011
4:04 pm
I’ve actually seen several City of Atlanta salt trucks around my neighborhood. We could use more help on the highways…the State could step up a bit.
catlady
January 11th, 2011
4:08 pm
Brilliant! And we are not expecting the state to take care of us–we know we will have to take care of ourselves. The “big boys” will be taken care of by the taxpayers.
You know all the talk about how “God has been with us from the beginning” that Deal was quoted (and I am paraphrasing) saying this weekend about the possibility of snow messing up the inauguration? Well, I wonder what kind of an omen it is that the state has been shut down since he became governor? More to come?
“But the governor, in his second day on the job, refused to respond to any questions.” Might as well get used to it. We saw this already, didn’t we?
Massai
January 11th, 2011
4:09 pm
This guy is senseless and completely selfish. I quote “Roads are Icy…Take care of yourself” This is ludacris and absurb! How dare you say take care of yourself when plenty of roads are iced and no government support to help alleviate some of the ice on roads affected by the storm. You would think for as much warning we get from the news about incoming storm threats to the state, that the goverment would step up and have salt/sand trucks or plowers on the road before the snow and ice fell instead of trying to apply (some-very little) salt or sand on the snow and ice. Fools. Well I guess, stupid people vote for stupid officials that make dumb decisions for the state on taxpayers monies. Georgia when are yall going to get it together. Two words…The hell with Gov. Deal!!!
V. Highlands
January 11th, 2011
4:09 pm
The City of Atlanta is the only government entity open and running in the Atlanta Metro area. Gov. Deal may need to take notes.
SpaceyG on Twitter
January 11th, 2011
4:10 pm
We’ve been told where we stand with this governor for the next four years. Consider yourself warned!
Brian
January 11th, 2011
4:11 pm
Get over it people, Barnes lost.
North Georgia Mountains
January 11th, 2011
4:13 pm
You, sir, are an idiot.
I agree with KJ – most of you all have a better way. Run for public office if you are so smart and have such great ideas.
Southern Boy
January 11th, 2011
4:14 pm
Interesting how much of the available state resources (4 wheel vehicles) are being reserved for local government for tomorrow’s session. Hey, I need to get around and I pay taxes for those resources! More and more, I am realizing that the government folks care for themselves, and for the public after.
Auburn!
January 11th, 2011
4:15 pm
We can’t blame this on Deal quite yet…he just stepped in office. I am impressed with how engaged Mayor Reed has been during the storm. Let’s be realistic…This is a southern City so it’d be foolish to go out and buy a bunch of snow trucks for something that occurs two days a year at most. All sane Atlantans understand that.
Happy With Deal
January 11th, 2011
4:16 pm
I have no problem with him wearing something comfortable when we are in a state of emergency. Good for him! As for those of you suggesting spending millions on salt trucks for the very few time they are needed…is there some state surplus that you know about that none of us do? Did all the teachers get their jobs back??? Hmmm…yeah…heck with our kids futures, lets buy salt trucks so the one to three days a year we can’t get to WalMart, we can! Great priorities…no wonder why this place is going down the pooper! The people are driving it!
Brian
January 11th, 2011
4:17 pm
If the state spent a bunch of money on plows for a once-in-10-year storm, then people would be screaming thier heads off on how that money was wasted.
NIKKI
January 11th, 2011
4:17 pm
The problem with society: “we want the government to take care of us!” sniff sniff sniff. You are the ones who voted in a socialist president,so don’t whine when the government is literally involved in every aspect of your life.
older conservative
January 11th, 2011
4:18 pm
Catlady, you are still licking your wounds from the governor’s election. Why don’t you move to another state???? we are tired of your whining!!!!!!!
rw
January 11th, 2011
4:18 pm
I have a question. Since the roads started icing we have seen one semi on top of another crashing and sliding down an interstate somewhere. Even heard a semi driver talking about “I’ve been sliding on ice since I crossed the state line.” Heard a news interview where someone I thought was with DOT say something about “we need these trucks to stay put.” Why didn’t anyone have the sense and guts to TELL the trucks to stay off the roads? Wouldn’t that have made lives safer/easier?
Honest Abe
January 11th, 2011
4:19 pm
Wait! City of Atlanta is open today? I’m impressed.
cat fight
January 11th, 2011
4:19 pm
I hope Kassim Reed runs in 4 years. He seems to be the only politician in the state with an ear to the public needs. Kudos to Mr. Reed for stepping up and making sure people saw some action in Atlanta. Four more years of good old boy garbage piled on top of the 8 just past for the State.
Vince
January 11th, 2011
4:19 pm
@Thisissomebullsh…
I do not want our state or county to invest my tax dollars in something that would only get used once a decade.
Salt trucks? No thanks, you can keep ‘em. I don’t want salt either ruining my lawn or my car.
Relax folks.
Mid Ga Retiree
January 11th, 2011
4:20 pm
Trouble is, most sane people are doing something constructive rather than whining on blogs.
Brian
January 11th, 2011
4:20 pm
Didn’t see any Prius’ out and about today….
twistedmuser.com
January 11th, 2011
4:20 pm
I really don’t expect Georgia to go extreme when buying snow equipment, but having to close the entire southern half of 285 seems to show a lack of preparedness. Not really complaining though, I didn’t have to get on it.
General Robert E. Lee
January 11th, 2011
4:21 pm
If you “dum”-ocrats hadn’t been so obsessed with changing the state flag 10 years ago, you “dum”-ocrats might still be in charge. LMMFAO!
You can’t block a PROXY Jim, good try though.
Diet_coke_Girl
January 11th, 2011
4:22 pm
I have no problem with not investing in heavy equipment because these events are rare. Although, these winter events seem to be getting more common. Obviously this storm was crazy but last year there were a few days with snow and ice, and this past Christmas, I think that maybe a few extra trucks to at least get 75, 85 and 285 cleared as soon as they can? I think that Georgia will probably start to get more and more snow in the coming years (ice as well). Now My HOA on the other hand needs to stop throwing $$ away to the management company to do thier work and buy some salt or ice melt…our streets are skating rinks and they say they can’t prepare in time… I think we had what? A weeks notice???
Beamer Jim
January 11th, 2011
4:23 pm
Can Kasim Reed and Nathan Deal switch places for a week or two…maybe even a year or four?
Steve
January 11th, 2011
4:26 pm
Massai, you sir (?), are an idiot.
ABFAN
January 11th, 2011
4:28 pm
I am sick and tired of hearing the people complain about what the Government is or is not doing. I am sure that the limited resources they have for an event like this are being utilized as best as they know how. But the Government is not meant to solve your every problem. And I certainly don’t want to pay whatever tax rate would be required to solve every problem on your unrealistic time schedule.
Cletus Dooley Earnhardt SR.
January 11th, 2011
4:30 pm
Jenral RubertE lie,
yu sir are a lejendary saynt and secund in myy boy books to Geesus Cris himeslef. i fiyte that sivil war in myy brain all the tyme. NEVVER FURGET!!!!!!! Theese liberrals caree tooo muchh about heeltha care, snow, jobbs andd pinko homosekual stuff! Thee reel issshoe is the REBUL FLAGG!
-GO UGA!
JackATL
January 11th, 2011
4:33 pm
@ Older Conservative…….I’m sure you’re still whining about Obama being the president….so why don’t YOU move to another country!!!
JackATL
January 11th, 2011
4:36 pm
All these truckers I see complaining on the highway………I guess the Ice Road Truckers are the only big boy truckers!!! LOL
Cekker
January 11th, 2011
4:36 pm
What exactly has Kasim Reed been doing that everyone is so impressed with?
Last Man Standing
January 11th, 2011
4:37 pm
Thisissomebullsh** :
It makes very little sense to invest untold millions in equipment that will be used so rarely. If you don’t care for the way this situation is being handled, feel free to return to whatever planet you originated from with my blessings.
catlady:
You are as bitter and scathing as ever. If there is only one blessing received during this event, it is that one doesn’t have to be caged with you for the duration.
Truth
January 11th, 2011
4:37 pm
this crippled city should be ashamed. Nathan Deal you and those fools sitting around a desk need to go grab shovels and get something done. This weather was predicted since LAST WEEK. UGH.
Mayorofponce
January 11th, 2011
4:37 pm
Yeah, 2nd day in office and dude is in a sweat shirt? Really?? What do you expect from a redneck who owns a bankrupt junkyard.
Native Atlantan
January 11th, 2011
4:46 pm
Even this hardened progressive doesn’t expect the state or local government to “fix” the snow/ice problems. These events are rare and we are fortunate we didn’t lose power as we normally do during typical ice storms. We were warned in advance, we were told to stay off the roads and everyone is doing what they can to clean up the mess. And I agree with others in not wanting state funds diverted to equipment that will sit idle most of the time. Some of you folks need to keep up with the local news and not just the 4-feet of your personal space.
Allow Me To Defend Our New Governor For A Moment — Peach Pundit
January 11th, 2011
4:50 pm
[...] in his first meeting with the press, Governor Deal said this: The weather has to cooperate in order for us to do what we really need to do. So I would just urge [...]
HereandThere
January 11th, 2011
4:54 pm
Remote areas of GA should have snow capable ambulances and chains for their Firetrucks because they are remote. Doesn’t make much sense to not put the resources where the most people need them. I mean they can’t even run MARTA bus service. This is bad for working people who need to get to work to get paid. GDOT and the State have fallen down on this one – Get the busy state routes cleared! How many days has it been?
Rubin Hood
January 11th, 2011
4:55 pm
Deal must have worked for Costco once upon a time. Costco was the first employer to allow casual work attire for their employee’s back in the 80’s. I remember making a sales call in business attire and was stunned to see their buyers in casual wear.
Simply Amazing
January 11th, 2011
4:58 pm
No ones is asking for our Gov to spend millions of dollars on new equipment, but for now, we would just like to see the old equipment on the road, moving the ice and snow, does anybody know where did the old equipment is…I guess NOT.
Steve
January 11th, 2011
5:00 pm
I don’t recall all this moaning about the government was and wasn’t doing during the ice storm of 1973. Granted, I was a kid, but I guess it’s just a measure of society that people today always want something handed to them NOW.
For all these people whining about the rate of success in battling Mother Nature, put yourself in the shoes of the people working out in this weather. But something tells me y’all wouldn’t last an hour.
Chris
January 11th, 2011
5:00 pm
If any of you think the salt trucks and plows are really that much of a needed expenditure by and already broke state government please send your contributions to purchase them in to the state treasurer, or better yet buy your own. Salt trucks and snow plows do not wear out, they rust away, it would be pretty foolish to invest in something that may get used 3-4 times before it has to be discarded. I am up north right now, salt only works on snow, when the ice comes, nothing helps, even here. Shut up and enjoy the days at home doing nothing, it does not happen that often. It will be melted by the end of the week, and as someone else on here stated, this was known about days ago, my family did the smart thing and stocked up on what supplies were needed BEFORE the weekend and will be fine for another week or longer if need be.
Learn to pay attention and take care of yourself, if not sit around and cry, it won’t help.
po-po
January 11th, 2011
5:00 pm
I have a solution for all of these trucks. Take a fleet of bulldozers down there, push the damn trucks off the road. If they get damaged, so what…..they should not have been there in the first place. The GDOT could fix the road, maybe…..
wisconsin native
January 11th, 2011
5:05 pm
Up north this wouldn’t have even made news. It’d have been cleaned up within 4 hours. It’s not like we’re in Miami… these storms happen in Atlanta every 5-10 years, and we get ice annually. They need to get some plows and salt trucks and learn how to use them effectively. This is just totally inexcusable. The money is in the budget if they cut some other stupid BS program.
Steve
January 11th, 2011
5:05 pm
Hard-Hal … Comment like yours are not necessary, or welcomed.
Sam in GA
January 11th, 2011
5:06 pm
This is the governor that was voted in by the people. As he stated “take care of yourselves… If you failed to vote please don’t complain over the next four years. You wanted less govenment involvement in addressing your needs, you got it.
LewHolt
January 11th, 2011
5:07 pm
Robert E Lee? lol
Brad
January 11th, 2011
5:07 pm
Hal, are you still in elementary school?
Billsen
January 11th, 2011
5:08 pm
You keep cutting taxes, and eventually services get cut. That includes all of the snow clearing equipment and manpower you all are whining about. Anyone else want to demand more tax cuts?
Braves #17 Fan
January 11th, 2011
5:09 pm
We’re loving it!!
The Truth Blows
January 11th, 2011
5:12 pm
Truth, why dont you grab a shovel and get something done yourself. Oh let me guess, your waiting on someone else to do it.
Braves #17 Fan
January 11th, 2011
5:13 pm
Wow. I posted my above message before reading any of the angry and obscene posts. What’s wrong with you people? Would you post such tacky comments if your identity was revealed? Unsubscribe!!
Dealblows
January 11th, 2011
5:16 pm
Another racist redneck governor. Gotta luv the south.
Guido
January 11th, 2011
5:17 pm
By the way, if you post anything critical of the AJC here, it will be censored/deleted.
So much fun
January 11th, 2011
5:17 pm
It’s so fun to watch a bunch of idiot posters get all upset over nothing. It’s even more fun to watch the state, and the nation, destroy itself because of people like the vast majority of posters here. You are now so thoroughly brainwashed and socially engineered you don’t know which way is up. Our family is already making our plans to extricate ourselves from this hellhole of a failed nation. It will be fun to watch what you folks do when the entire economy collapses and you aren’t prepared. The true police state and martial law will be the norm and it will be too late for you to save yourselves. Too funny. You reap what you sew.
Guido
January 11th, 2011
5:18 pm
Dealblows…is that all you have? Why is he racist, or are you just conditioned to blame racism for everything which you don’t like?
Vince
January 11th, 2011
5:19 pm
@Sam in Ga….
You are exactly right. We should take care of ourselves. I stocked up, split firewood and shoveled my drive way. What a little whiny crybaby I would be to expect the government to take care of me.
Guido
January 11th, 2011
5:21 pm
If you expect the government to tend to your every need during a little snowstorm, then you are the problem.
HereandThere
January 11th, 2011
5:36 pm
Why should the city have to pay for snow removal from state routes that GDOT is supposed to take care of?
From AJC: Georgia has identified 200 miles of “priority” roads, and 150 miles of those roads have already been cleared, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said at a news conference. Even though some of those roads are state roads, the city is working to clear Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Memorial Drive, Peachtree Road, Piedmont Road and Ponce de Leon Avenue. Roads to hospitals are clear, Reed said. MARTA is going to decide on its level of service around 5:30 p.m., he said.
HereandThere
January 11th, 2011
5:42 pm
You all defending the State and GDOT with the “cost” excuse are missing the point! As others have stated, its not a question of buying a ton of equipment its a question of using the equipment we have efficiently. Driving legislators around and clearing roads in the remote areas where there is little travel is NOT efficient!
Massai
January 11th, 2011
5:46 pm
Sorry Steveo- but you are one of the blind sheeps who just follow. Loser!
larhondabaker
January 11th, 2011
5:57 pm
Enter your comments here
Thisissomebullsh**
January 11th, 2011
6:03 pm
@Janie and @ LastManStanding:
Just so you know, I’ve been an Atlanta resident for more than 20 years, hence my observance of how this matter is handled. Never mind the fact that it doesn’t take a native Atlantan to discern that this event unnecessarily causes lost wages for those who are forced to stay at home and injuries/damages for those who either cannot afford to do so, or are required to report to work regardless of hazardous conditions (i.e. law enforcement, Georgia Power, etc.) With regard to schools, most have only allotted for three snow days this school year.
Again, while snowstorms of this magnitude are rare, ice storms do occur annually in this state, so trucks would most likely be utilized on a regular basis. It makes sense that the cost of a fleet of trucks should be weighed against loss of revenue for business owners and lost pay for Atlantans.
You said, “It makes very little sense to invest untold millions in equipment that will be used so rarely.” Do you really think that we are not paying one way or another?
@wisconsin native: I totally agree.
Snowman
January 11th, 2011
6:07 pm
All you whiny libs need to get over it. In his inaugural address Deal said that we shouldn’t be relying on the guvmint for transportation and water.
So build your own roads and reservoirs a new sheriff’s in town.
"RGB"
January 11th, 2011
6:14 pm
LESS GUBMINT’ & NO TAXES!
WHERE’S MY GUBMINT’ OPERATED TAXPAYER FUNDED SNOW PLOW? I NEED TO GET A SIX PACK DAMMIT!
atlanta mom
January 11th, 2011
6:14 pm
@ Truth : “this crippled city should be ashamed”
That’s interesting. I’ve been able to get around the city all day. Slushy but doable.
I did however drive on GA 400 this afternoon. Scary. Most of the time there was one lane, except when there was only a sheet of ice.
@catlady–you go girl. Folks just hate to have the obvious pointed out to them.
atlanta mom
January 11th, 2011
6:17 pm
@Thisissomebullsh**
Ice storms do NOT occur annually in Atanta. And let’s suppose they do. We should have all this equipment around for one day a year???? What’s unusual this time is that it did not warm up the next day and allow us all to go to work.
GA Native & Soldier
January 11th, 2011
6:17 pm
@ Thisissomebullsh** , WisconsinNative, et. al:
While the state may see ice every year, we do not normally have this lengthy of an event but once every 10 years or so. I grew up here… ‘73, ‘82, ‘93, ‘00, and now ‘11… The GA DOT’s resources are being used on the ROADS, all the emergency workers are being picked up by the NATIONAL GUARD. All you folks that came from up north that are whining about how Georgia and Atlanta handle ourselves during a snow event of this magnitude need to start paying attention – the rest of us “Native Southerners / Georgians” had been listening to the news for a week, got prepared, and STAYED AT HOME. If you’re foolish enough to go out when you don’t need to, then, yes, by all means, suffer the consequences! The Governor had sage advice, the government is doing all it can to take care of you, but at some point YOU have to have some personal responsibility and some common sense to take care of yourselves!
catlady
January 11th, 2011
6:18 pm
Oh, I am not complaining for me. I am all set. We won’t move until at least the weekend. But maybe someone should have tried to plan on getting some private bulldozing folks out and about. I think that is what NYC has done this time around. We had plenty of warning on this. Wasn’t ANYONE in charge?
What I am concerned about is the concrete example of “you all will have to take care of yourself” that we got not 24 hours after the inauguration. There will probably be a lot of that to come.
On the “driving legislators around”, perhaps they could use some of their massive per diem money to hire their own drivers?
C from Marietta
January 11th, 2011
6:20 pm
To wisconsin native
First, please move back. We are sicking of folks moving here and whining. If Wisconsin is so great. Why move.
Second, we get snow and ice to this degreee ONCE every 10 to 20 years.
Third, we do get ice once a year, but usually the stuff is melting the next morning without the help of salt etc. No need to buy equipment that will sit for 10 years. That is a waste of money.
Fourth, this is the exception not the rule for Georgia. The avg temp for this time of year is 55 degrees.
Don
January 11th, 2011
6:22 pm
Truth: Yes, it was predicted. GDot pretreated some areas. They’ve been working 24 hours a day since it hit. What do you think that they should have done. I’m from Michigan. I’ve seen 300 inches of snow in one winter. We have equipment up there because it makes sense. It doesn’t make sense to have a significant equipment inventory down here, as you well know.
C from Marietta
January 11th, 2011
6:25 pm
AGAIN, in a normal year. The Ice melts the next morning.
C from Marietta
January 11th, 2011
6:27 pm
Hey Don,
Your welcome to stay you get it. I don’t mind folks moving down to Atlanta. I just mind the ones that come down and are critical of everything the south does.
C from Marietta
January 11th, 2011
6:30 pm
To catlady,
What in the heck do you want Gov Deal to do? Please share you vast knowledge of running a state government. GDOT is working around the clock. Sometimes you do have to take care of yourself.
HereandThere
January 11th, 2011
6:48 pm
GEEZ you all defending GDOT to recognize the main complaint. GDOT is not doing the removal and cleanup efficiently. THEY HAVE EQUIPMENT OK? Now us local taxpayers have to pay for the clean up . Its about lost wages. Its about the State Guv putting a using their 4 wheel vehicles to move people around. its about GDOT focusing on remote areas instead of where most of the people and thus economic activity is.
Jon Lester
January 11th, 2011
6:48 pm
I didn’t vote for Deal, and I love the women of CBS Atlanta, but I honestly don’t know why they expect him to have any more to say about what any of us can do about the weather.
HereandThere
January 11th, 2011
7:00 pm
From another AJC article, this is what I’m talking about! The Mayor said the city is working with GDOT to clear Peachtree, Piedmont, Ponce de Leon, Memorial, Northside and Martin Luther King, all state roads controlled by the state.
“We don’t want people to see these streets and blame one party or the other,” Reed said. “So we are taking care of them. But was not going to immediately assume responsibility of state roads.”
State fell down on the job. Decided to send their equipment elsewhere – to remote sections of GA.
Decided to use 4 wheel drive vehicles to move legislators around.
Meanwhile working stiffs can’t get to their jobs, can’t earn a paycheck. But a couple rabid folks on here think this is just whining, no its not its about being able to work, to afford the groceries, you may have a job that pays you to sit at home, or you may work out of your mother’s basement – this isn’t about increased funding this is about getting the State to show some respect to Metro Atlanta! We support the state, without Metro Atlanta the state would be bankrupt.
Ima Crook
January 11th, 2011
7:10 pm
yeah nathan, we take care of ourselves just like you did when getting the high honor of being one of the top 15 crooks in congress!
GaBlue
January 11th, 2011
7:20 pm
Thanks, Daddy Deal! You sure do love us, don’t you?
Hey Daddy…. I want to open up my own business. No, I haven’t spent years learning the business. Nope, haven’t saved the money up either. What? Nuh-uh, was I supposed to calculate the overhead expenses of a new building vs. renting empty retail space for a song? Oh well, DADDY, you’ll get me the money to do it anyway, right? If it doesn’t work, somebody will bail us out because we’re special. No biggie! LU, Daddy!
eatmotacos
January 11th, 2011
7:30 pm
Remember last summer when Sonny couldn’t afford fuel for the mowers, and all of the Interstates had knee high, garbage strewn grass, and the shoulders were paved with truck tire carcasses? The $100,000 exclusive tax refund Sonny received would have bought a lot of tractor fuel. This isn’t about Libs vs. Conservatives – it’s about clueless voters, who continue to elect incompetent, self serving crooks. It doesn’t matter if they have a D or an R after their name,(for example,Deal has had both), a crook is a crook.
Kt
January 11th, 2011
7:31 pm
This is a response to Kevin, the idiot who commented “They Katrina’d us”,
You have the most egregious lack of perspective I have seen today, you win the award in lack of perspective, if lack of perspective were currency you’d corner the market in lack of perspective.
Please compare these the following two situations:
#1 You have to spend a couple of days in the safety and warmth of your home while the ice on the roads is cleared, a full recovery to normalcy is in sight and can be expected by the end of the week.
VS.
#2 You are trapped in the attic as the waters rise and am trying desperately to break a hole in your roof so that you and your family/friends/roomates can get onto your roof and not drown, even if you do make it to the roof you could spend days waiting on your roof in the hot sun dehydrated and sick. You could very well die and even if you dont your life and city will remain crippled well into the next decade.
So Kevin, please tell me, on a scale of 1-10 please rate the difference in severity between #1 and #2.
So you can’t go out and drive around safely, boo-freakin-hoo, just sit on your butt sipping hot cocoa by the fire or in front of the TV/Computer and enjoy the break from the norm. Geez
Boooo
January 11th, 2011
7:31 pm
Come on folks! Snow and ice is not seen a lot in Georgia. Why invest in a lot of expensive equipment for an event that happens once every ten years? Sit down, shut up and enjoy what God hath provided. There is plenty of time for your rat race to reconvene.
Steve
January 11th, 2011
7:55 pm
You folks got to remember this. Who cares if a pregnant woman in North Georgia needs to get to the Hospital, or a Kidney Transplant patient needs to get home. Not the Interstate Commerce between North & South, East or West. It’s all about who needs to go to McDonalds & WalMart … Or, the closest place for free hand-outs.
henry county mom
January 11th, 2011
8:33 pm
How are the National Guard helping people from Iraq?
td
January 11th, 2011
8:43 pm
HereandThere
January 11th, 2011
7:00 pm
From another AJC article, this is what I’m talking about! The Mayor said the city is working with GDOT to clear Peachtree, Piedmont, Ponce de Leon, Memorial, Northside and Martin Luther King, all state roads controlled by the state
And these roads aremore important then the interstates? Please tell me this is not your attitude?
Cheapest
January 11th, 2011
8:56 pm
I don’t blame Gov Deal. I do fault the GDOT. As a Trucker said on Clark Howard” Alabama did a better job. We don’t need to purchase all that equipment for the few number of times we need it. Why can’t we pool with other states, that are outside the area that is being hit. That’s what the electric companies do. Also the GDOT can contract with the cities to put plow attachment on trash trucks. Bottom line we don’t have to reinvent the wheel. We just need people to research and plan
Stay warm,
Cheapest
January 11th, 2011
8:57 pm
It’s very nice. I enjoy the comments.
atlanta mom
January 11th, 2011
8:59 pm
@td
So, what do you want? The CIty of Atlanta clearing the interstates? Or Georgia state roads? Sort of like the school system? We can take care of everything?
dd
January 11th, 2011
9:03 pm
drove from Atlanta to Charlotte today. Roads in Atlanta were awful, and in NE Georgia were bad. Didn’t look like even the interstate had been plowed at all. Got almost to the SC line on I-85, and the roads were essentially clear from that point on…….can’t understand why SC and NC can clear their interstates so well, and ours are still covered.
No Dog in this Hunt
January 11th, 2011
9:12 pm
GDOT has limited resources and they have plans (available for public review) on which roads get cleared first. Before people go suggesting we raise more taxes for snow and ice equipment, get involved and see where their priorities are, and where the money is spent. I’d rather we docus on education. GDOT has been forced to cut staff, just like the rest of the state. That is what happens when the major focus is to be in the bottom 5 in taxes.
justjanny
January 11th, 2011
9:14 pm
Hey, if you want something to whine about, just wait until you get your next electric and gas bills. Oy vay!!!
Atlanta weather | Snow, ice continue to blanket the metro area – Atlanta Journal Constitution | SabDesi - entertainment and news portal
January 11th, 2011
9:18 pm
[...] conference Tuesday that the icy conditions that have paralyzed much of the state and its roadways aren’t going away anytime soon.3:28 p.m.: Publix Super Market stores in metro Atlanta will close at 4 p.m. The stores are expected [...]
native
January 11th, 2011
9:23 pm
It is a shame that some rural citizens are denied emergency healthcare (and all other services) under these conditions. The problem is demographics. How can you predict which ones will need emergancy transportation when you can afford to provide it to a mere and unpredictable fraction?
Maybe the most efficient way of bringing protection to rural residents would to provide an attachable plow and snow tire/chains for a designated vehicle for this relatively unusual weather.
Todd
January 11th, 2011
9:25 pm
this ice storm really wrecked my schedule
Native Atlantan
January 11th, 2011
9:30 pm
@dd — my understanding is NC and SC didn’t receive nearly the amount of snow and ice we did..but my only reference are employees I have in Charlotte and Raleigh.
@Don — thank God, a breath of fresh air….
Cutty
January 11th, 2011
9:34 pm
Can’t really blame Deal (although his outfit is not fit for a 2nd day Governor) on this one, but DOT definitely dropped the ball. Interstates ARE priority 1 routes, and to have the connector looking like an ice rink for two days is unacceptable. Reed is spot on that Peachtree, Piedmont, Ponce, and MLK are the responsibility of the state as well.
Just bad planning and execution by the DOT is all. Dumb Georgians should’ve stayed off the roads too.
Brother Bill
January 11th, 2011
9:54 pm
If only we had cameras on I-285, then the g’ment regulators could see what was happening and do something about it. Oh, yes, we do have cameras on I-285.
Politico
January 11th, 2011
10:11 pm
Our previous governor and his DOT commissioner puppet have cut the department’s maintenance budget beyond the bone. Just eight years ago you would have seen a major difference on the roads on day two of this event. No more. The governor said, “Get used to it.” He might as well have added, “It’s the GOP way. We don’t do squat.”
Gregory T. George
January 11th, 2011
10:14 pm
There’s no question about,although forewarned,Atlanta was totally unprepared and slow to reacting. Strategies and methods used in the 80’s do not work today.
"RGB"
January 11th, 2011
10:19 pm
Get out and shovel your own streets. You want the gubmint to do everything for you lazy Georgians?
E.T.
January 11th, 2011
10:32 pm
I wonder how much of the delay in clearing the streets was due to manpower shortage issues. I’m sure a lot of workers simply could not get to work.
Tom Moreland
January 11th, 2011
10:35 pm
And what sort of experience in running a major state transportation department did our crack DOT Commissioner have when appointed? None. But he WAS a 17 year veteran of our legislature!
And we wonder why the highways still aren’t clear…
MzMoore
January 11th, 2011
10:39 pm
I am sorry. The GA DOT is not ready for prime time. Several weather incidents in the past two months have shown that GDOT staff do not have a clue. Someone needs to be held accountable for GDOT’s complete lack of knowledge and preparation. Their excuses are lame and shameful.
dd
January 11th, 2011
10:48 pm
@ Native, could be, but sure looks like the grassways have a lot of snow on them. And their sidewalks are pretty rough up here. btw, since I posted, have been in downtown CLT for a few hours, and their surface streets are clear of snow and ice.
GA Native & Soldier
January 11th, 2011
10:51 pm
@ native & E.T.:
You both have a point… a detachable/attachable plow that could be attached to different types of standard vehicles by the DOT is a good idea… And manpower shortages would have left them behind the power-curve.
@ everyone else:
The state budget has been repeatedly cut due to the economy; if everyone will recall, Gov. Purdue had all state departments submit cuts of 10%+, regardless of function. Cut the DOT some slack, it costs money to put people up in preparation, it costs money to buy even detachable plows, it costs money and doggone it, we don’t want our taxes to go up in this down economy, even if we want the government to give us everything! Geez, people, you can’t always have your cake and eat it too!
dd
January 11th, 2011
10:52 pm
Would be interesting to see if that’s where they have cut expenses….or if it’s just being poorly managed this time.
Abdominal Snowman
January 11th, 2011
11:41 pm
“One of the questions asked of the new governor was whether it was proper on Monday to devote so much of the state’s force of four-wheel drive vehicles to bringing state lawmakers to the state Capitol to convene the winter session of the General Assembly.”
Gov what time can I expect the 4WD vehicle to be by to take me to work?
stranded
January 12th, 2011
12:26 am
Salt and Sand will not do much good if you don’t remove the snow first. Otherwise you have to resand daily after each O/N freeze. Quite frankly, they would have been better off doing nothing, from what I have seen and heard, most everything (accept for immediate downtown area) looks the same as it did Monday morning.
Again, this is a once in a decade event (if not more rare), and the salt is expensive (Watch for costs in the millions just for salt and sand.. let alone overtime and everything else); might as well do nothing and save the money as long as the result is pretty much the same.
Look for Deal to start his own “snow removal” company in the future, to coincide with his inspection station in Athens.
A city the size of Atlanta, with more square footage of hwys than most cities in the country, will never be able to keep up with a snow event of this magnitude. It would be irresponsible fiscally to own the equipment necessary. They need plows that can travel at high speeds, side by side by side to clear the lanes on 85, 75 20 etc. There isn’t enough time in the day to cover the square miles of the city with 50 lousy trucks… many of them farm tractors with a plow attached.
Again, let’s cut our losses and do nothing, and save some money. Although the millions of dollars in business revenue will not be easy to make up this month, there is no reason to waste millions trying to do what only the sun can do in Atlanta.
Einat
January 12th, 2011
12:42 am
Someone down there said it best. stupid people vote for stupid officials that make dumb decisions for the state on taxpayers monies
elaine
January 12th, 2011
2:19 am
Is anyone stuck with computer problems, not fun if you can’t make it to work and must work from home. Who would you recommend calling?
Larry Felton Johnson
January 12th, 2011
5:03 am
Politically I don’t have much use for Deal, and I’m sure I’ll have a lot of reasons to post criticisms (I’m a liberal Democrat), but he has not been in office long enough to have even been adequately briefed on GDOT policies, much less to influence their response to an extreme storm.
It does sound like the lack of shift change overlap on GDOT crews is a bad idea. I think it probably comes from lack of need (normally Atlanta snow and ice storms thaw off the roads after a day, so concentrating the shifts hasn’t seemed to be a problem in the past).
Yankee in Gooberville
January 12th, 2011
6:47 am
No wonder the South lost the Civil War. Look how a puny bit of snow and ice cripples the morons down here.
The snow removal/salting equipment for the entire miserable city costs far less than the amount of revenue lost by shutting businesses, the cost to the airlines, etc. But nutbag right wingers see a few tax dollars spent and practically s**t themselves without trying to think anything through.
Judy
January 12th, 2011
7:14 am
Who is going to pay me for the days I have had to miss of work. I am only a temp to hire because of the economy and unemployment so I have no vacation days or sick time. Since we are declared a state of emergency and some states let people claim unemployment during a crisis for days missed. Creditors do not care, they want their money even though it was our money who bailed them out
Al Gore
January 12th, 2011
7:40 am
See I told you. This is global warming.
Fought Snow/Ice Before
January 12th, 2011
9:10 am
The inexperienced management staff at GDOT gets all the blame for the shutdown of Georgia’s roadways.
In years past for events of this magnitude GDOT management executed emergency contracts with road construction contractors for assistance is clearing snow and ice from the roadways.
Maybe next time the current staff will.
Marley
January 12th, 2011
9:19 am
Truth is…the mass layoffs of city workers has come back to bite the city in the A**.
stranded
January 12th, 2011
10:16 am
Yankee in Gooberville has a great point: the cost of lost business is going to be huge.. not just due to the closings, but also due to product not getting in and out of Atlanta. 90-95% of stranded vehicles on the Interstate were trucks.
GDOT has to have a plan to keep the Interstate clear. They need to have a plan in place with other cities and states to ensure the Interstate is clear at all times if possible, because they will be impacted just as much as Atlanta.
The eight or twelve “pieces of equipment” mostly farm equipment that cannot move above 20 MPH, couldn’t keep the airport runways clean, let alone the entire square miles of Atlanta’s HWYs.
I still think it is insane to spend all of the money on overtime and salt and dirt, when the city is still crippled 3 days after the fact. If you are going to spend tax dollars, make it work, and make it worthwhile.. otherwise don’t spend any at all, and wait for the Sun to come out.
In defense of GDOT, there is no way you can expect them to clear this amount of snow and ice, without experienced drivers, a well thought out plan or strategy, and the necessary equipment. It is comparable to asking a city of over 2 Million people that live at 5000 feet above sea level, to be prepared for an unannounced hurricane or Flood.
I feel bad for the people that need emergency services, meals on wheels, home health etc. This is a state of emergency for many people, and I am not convinced that GA govt has made the right decisions thus far. This will be a learning experence, and hopefully they will come up with a solid framework for the next snow event for the future (March perhaps?).
Voice of Reason
January 12th, 2011
10:27 am
During Katrina, I saw utility trucks from all over the country drive to New Orleans to help get power back up. Why can’t snow plows/salt spreaders from all over come and help here with this emergency? Maybe because we all just sit and wait for the sun to melt the ice, while our local businesses are forced to stay closed? Should we all start calling the White House and be making some noise here? The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
td
January 12th, 2011
11:27 am
Yankee in Gooberville
January 12th, 2011
6:47 am
Let me let you in on a little secret: We the people of the South would love nothing better than if you would pack up and move your self right back up to “Yankeeland” and let us be live the way we want to live. I promise we will not try to stop you and we will not shed any tears when you are gone.
GA Native & Soldier
January 12th, 2011
11:31 am
@ Abdominal Snowman:
Those legislators were trucked in via 4WD in accordance with our STATE CONSTITUTION… Oh… I forgot, you liberal Democrats MOCK our US Constitution; why should the GA Constitution get any better treatment?! If you don’t like Georgia in winter, GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. Me, I’ll continue to stay at home where it is safe!
GA Native & Soldier
January 12th, 2011
11:37 am
@ Yankee in Gooberville:
Please feel free to avail yourself of any and all means to GO BACK TO THE NORTH. Most of the “morons” we deal with down here are carpetbaggers like yourself who come down here and think they can drive in ICE. Why should we spend tax-payer money, to include YOURS, on equipment that would only be used every 10 years or so? Oh, that’s right, you’d whine and complain about that also, if GaDOT and Atlanta buy more plows/salt trucks/etc, and it doesn’t snow or ice over any more this winter.
Better yet, on your way back north, why don’t you do us all a favor: Shut up. Remember, a closed mouth gathers no foot.
sandy
January 12th, 2011
11:53 am
can someone tell me if we are still under a state of emergency?
stranded
January 12th, 2011
12:12 pm
Haha! Let’s lynch the Yankee! Yeah the carpetbaggers are the problem… they did an Indian Snow Dance to make your lives miserable!Haha.
Voice of Reason: The city of Atlanta has more HWY sq mileage than DC, Philly, Pittsburgh, etc. Do you think they have enough extra plows to bail out Atlanta? I highly doubt it.
In addition, they are getting 12-16 inches of snow as of this time from the same weather system; I think they may need their equipment.
Let’s face it, we either have to suck it up when someting like this happens, or suck it up come tax time to pay for the extra equipment and manpower to prepare for this type of storm.
I would like to see some entrepeneurs take the risk in keeping our streets clear, since the majority think Govt is the problem, and big business and the private sector seems to be detrimented the most by weather events like this.
Let’s keep an eye on Deal’s business ventures though…
Clive
January 12th, 2011
1:10 pm
I am surpized that trailer trash Deal isn’t right now figuring out a way to get some Hall County good ole boys to clean up the snow and pass some money over to help get ole Nathan back on his feet.
Jon
January 12th, 2011
1:17 pm
When things like this happen it just shows how dumb average Georgians are. They all drive around in their big trucks and SUV’s acting like tough guys yet only order the cheaper 2wd versions and are too scared to drive in a little bit of snow and ice. I drove all over the place yesterday in my fwd car no problem so rather than blame the response how about making the driving test harder so people actually have to learn to drive properly and know how to drive in proportion to conditions. It may also save some highway deaths as well.
Georiga is home to the supericial and dumb and well represented by the new governor who will do nothing during his term than perpetuate the stupidity.
deegee
January 12th, 2011
1:19 pm
How many freakin times over the last 36 hours have we heard from the weather announcers that the icy roads aren’t going away and to take care of yourselves? We needed Nathan Deal for that? Why was there an inch of sand on the sidewalks around the Georgia Capitol building this morning? That sand could have been put to much better purpose.
I was out driving at 7:30 this morning and again at 10:30 this morning. The conditions were much more hazardous at 10:30 because of the layer of water on the ice, and all of the idiot drivers tailgating, talking on their cellphones and driving too fast for conditions.
Jon
January 12th, 2011
1:26 pm
Simple facts are we need a tougher driving test in GA along with more rigid law enforcement of traffic violations and also red light cameras. I can sit by large interesections and you will see a***hole after a***hole running red lights, following too close and driving too fast for conditions.
All the “my rights” idiots will complain but it will save lifes which could be their own children or family.
Janice
January 12th, 2011
1:37 pm
Deal looks like he is sitting in the cabin in his scapyard with his chicken farming mates………
You can bet your life if the DOT buy any road salt it will be via his friends companies.
catlady
January 12th, 2011
2:32 pm
I see that one of our bigwig GA legislators, (who didn’t make it in after all on Monday) got his driveway plowed and cars moved by his county government “because he is an employee of the state.” Heck, so are hundreds of thousands of teachers, but I sure don’t see any help coming for us.
It appears that some of this could have been helped by hiring on private owners of bulldozers, etc.since we can’t really afford to buy snow removal equipment for the few days we have problems. Of course, that would have taken some LEADERSHIP.
deegee
January 12th, 2011
3:20 pm
What good is leadership and a plan if you don’t have any money? We wanted smaller government and now we have it. All I ask is that we keep up with every taxpayer dollar that is spent on promoting the special interests of our elected leaders. That includes using public vehicles as taxicabs for legislators like Casey Cagle, not to name names. I want to know about every cent that goes indirectly or directly into the private coffers of every legislator. I won’t be happy until I know that there are as many watchdogs and auditors passing through the portals of the Capitol building as there are lobbyists. Please, let’s not turn our backs on them.
J.J.
January 12th, 2011
4:35 pm
Come on Atlanta…,complaining will get us no where. Let’s show the world how we do things. Let’s all do our part by getting out the shovels and clearing the streets we live on.
deegee
January 12th, 2011
4:57 pm
Beautiful Dreamer, J.J. How many times do we see news stories about how people won’t pick up the trash that gets dumped on their streets? You think they are going to go out with a shovel and clear snow and ice? Beautiful dreamer, la la la la…
Steve
January 12th, 2011
6:47 pm
All you people complaining about the lack of equipment for snow removal, GDOT estimates it would cost $100 million if we would buy enough trucks & equipment to adequately deal with a storm like this, and that’s not going to happen.
http://cnn.com/video/?/video/weather/2011/01/12/savidge.atl.not.prepared.cnn
Janice
January 12th, 2011
7:34 pm
Only thing running this week were Marta trains. I just came back from the airport and the train was crowded. Same in the NE today. Long term Deal should be looking at expanding and improving Atlanta’s rail infrastructure.
Steve
January 12th, 2011
7:34 pm
Oh, and here’s another for you, too.
JPMorgan CEO Issues Dire Warning On Struggling U.S. Cities. His concerns echo those of Meredith Whitney, the analyst who has said the next major financial crisis will come from a wave of local government defaults, and those of famed investor Warren Buffett, who has called the municipal debt situation a “terrible problem.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/12/municipal-debt_n_807977.html
Atlanta Snow Veteran
January 13th, 2011
4:19 pm
Steve,
Great link on the CNN story with the costs and benefits explained.
For those blaming the government,
I agree that we want our dollars used as effectively as possible, but the bottom line is that nothing that could be done with the resources we currently have at our disposal would have made any appreciable difference. If you KNOW differently, then please provide detailed analysis, with $ amounts, for all of us so we can all understand what should be done. And, then, let us know when you will be running for office so we can be sure to elect you!
Atlanta Snow Veteran
January 13th, 2011
4:22 pm
Yankee in Gooberville,
As Lewis Grizzard used to say, “Delta is ready when you are” (at least once Snowmageddon is over). I’m sure with your superior Yankee intellect, you know what that means.