DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — With the dangerous cold closing in, metro Atlanta is putting to work lessons learned after last year’s back-to-back winter storms.
Fire Station 6 in south DeKalb County opened as a warming station at 6 p.m. Thursday. It’s one of DeKalb’s four fire stations with a warming room if someone needs to get in and out of the cold for a few minutes.
Outside, county crews are on the clock and making sure the roads are safe.
Metro Atlanta residents know it's coming and are bracing for it while local municipalities are preparing. Peggy Allen with DeKalb County Roads and Drainage says winter weather preparations began nearly a year ago.
“It seemed weird to order salt in summer, but that’s what we were doing this year," said Allen.
Two bays are piled high with pure salt and a salt-sand mixture that will go on icy roads and bridges. While precipitation is not expected overnight Wednesday, Allen says the county still prepares for icy conditions.
- DOWNLOAD: Channel 2's Severe Weather Team 2 Weather App
- DOWNLOAD: Channel 2 Wake-Up App
- SCHOOL CLOSINGS: Click here for closures and delays
“Sprinkler systems that are left on, water main breaks, things that put ice on the roads," Allen said.
Allen says they learned a lot from last year's wintry weather and are building two more salt stations as a result.
“We'll have something on the north end of the county; something on the south end of the county, so the crews wouldn’t have to travel so far when to restock material from when they put materials on the road,” Allen said.
She says 12 snowplows are working and ready with four more spreaders on order. Practice runs took place in October.
Allen says the county is prepared, but residents need to do their part to keep things running smoothly for the next three months.
“Make sure your pipes are covered. Also make sure you know where your shut-off valve is," Allen said.
Allen says residents should go to their local big box store to get materials to cover their pipes.
Officials urge residents to check their smoke detectors, make sure the battery is fresh and be cautious while using space heaters.
"Making sure you have a minimum three feet clearance away from blankets, covers, , throw rugs; anything combustible," said DeKalb County Fire Department Capt. Eric Jackson.
Jackson says never use an oven or stove as a heating source and never put a generator inside your car or garage," he said.