Governor: Georgia is more prepared to deal with winter weather

ATLANTA — Gov. Nathan Deal said Georgia is much more prepared to handle the potential of winter weather more than a week after an ice storm paralyzed Metro Atlanta for two days.
 
"I do know that the (Emergency Operations) Center has been open under GEMA's direction this morning, and all of the agencies that are involved in that process are present at the command center," Deal said. "They are obviously watching the weather."
 
Forecasters predict the possibility of some winter weather concentrated mainly south of metro Atlanta but don't expect to see the same kind of storm that last week snarled traffic for more than two days.
 
"GEMA director (Charley English) has been in consultation by phone with all of the meteorologists that are part of our new task force," said Deal.  "And they are trying to stay up to date as possible about any conditions that may change during the day."
 
Some drivers noticed GDOT signs Wednesday night and Thursday morning flashing winter weather watch signs, even though there were no watches issued. The agency later removed the signs and apologized for the mistake.
 
"In our desire to proactively inform the traveling public of potential hazardous road conditions, we overreacted to a weather statement from the National Weather Service and incorrectly posted watch and warning messages on our overhead message signs," GDOT said in a written statement.  "We apologize for any confusion this may have caused."

WSBTV