EMA opening Emergency Operations Center on Friday morning
DO NOT CALL 911 UNLESS EMERGENCY
STAY OFF ROADWAYS UNLESS NECESSARY
- State, County workers out pretreating roads on Thursday; Closures increasing
Schools are out, government offices and businesses are shuttered and the area is bracing for snow, ice and wintry mix to come via the winter storm set to blow into the area on Friday.
Temperatures are primed to bring snow in the morning, then turn to a wintry mix and maybe rain through the afternoon on Friday, and potentially refreeze and become ice overnight as the thermometer drops again and leave the roadways frozen for Saturday morning.
Multiple closures have already been announced ahead of the storm INCLUDING:
Polk School District is on a Learn-from-Home day; Haralson County School District and Paulding County School District, Covenant Christian School and Bremen City Schools are all closed on Friday.
Local government offices in Paulding County, Haralson County and Polk County – including city offices across the area – are closed on Friday as well. Courts will also be shuttered.
Check here for a longer list of closings for Friday & Saturday (so far)
All of North Georgia remains under a Winter Storm Warning from 7 a.m. Friday through 7 a.m. Saturday, per NWS Peachtree City.
First responders like Police and Fire will be coming into work and on call for any emergency situations that might develop during the day, and Public Works will be on hand as well, going out into the community as needed.
Assistant County Manager Connor Hooper said that workers from Public Works have been out pretreating roads ahead of the winter storm throughout Thursday work hours, but cautions everyone to be aware of the danger of getting out and about on Friday amid changing conditions. State workers were also out pretreating major highways through the area.
“We want to ensure that everyone remains safe and healthy during the upcoming storm, so we are encouraging everyone to stay home if at all possible on Friday and potentially Saturday based on conditions as they develop,” said Hooper.

EMA personnel additionally will be opening their Emergency Operations Center to coordinate any issues that arise from the storm as well. Polk County EMA Director Bobby Dockery and his staff have been tracking the forecast and held meetings on Wednesday and earlier today tracking the forecast.
The shifting models suggesting at least an inch of snow, plus the potential for ice and wintry mix make hazardous travel conditions likely for anyone who has to get out on the roadway through the day. Forecast models as of earlier today suggest snow earlier on during the day, then wintry mix and rain as temperatures rise during the afternoon, and the potential for ice to form overnight as temperature drop if not enough precipitation melts away before nightfall.
“A degree or two either way will make all the difference in the world,” Dockery said.
Residents are advised that unless it is a true emergency, DO NOT CALL 911 for assistance. Trees falling in your property, for instance, are not an emergency issue for 911 to handle but those falling in the roadway and preventing traffic from flowing on major or secondary roadways is an issue.
Those who experience power outages can contact 1-888-891-0938 or visit the Georgia Power website.
IT CAN’T BE EMPHASIZED ENOUGH: DO NOT TRAVEL UNLESS NECESSARY.
Here’s some additional items you should have on hand during the winter storm event:

Check back for additional details as the winter weather develops.
Want to share your photos or video from the winter storm? Email them to polktoday@gmail.com.