State of Emergency Declared in Georgia Due to Winter Storm

News Summary

Georgia has declared a state of emergency for Tuesday and Wednesday as a significant winter storm approaches, bringing snow and ice to the Peach State. Schools in the Augusta area are responding with early dismissals and special schedules to ensure student safety. Local colleges are adjusting their operations, with some closing campuses and shifting to remote learning. Residents are advised to prepare for dangerous road conditions and to stay informed about continued weather updates and local support resources.

State of Emergency Declared in Georgia as Winter Storm Approaches

As many in the Peach State make their preparations, it’s clear: old man winter is knocking on Georgia’s door! With a state of emergency declared for Tuesday and Wednesday, residents are urged to brace themselves for an incoming winter storm that promises snow, ice, and some unpredictable weather conditions. If you’ve got plans, you might want to double-check—this storm could shake things up quite considerably!

School Closures and Early Dismissals

When it comes to safety, local schools are already on top of things! In and around the Augusta area, public schools are busy assessing how the weather might impact their schedules. Aiken County schools are on a special early release schedule to ensure that students get home safely. Here’s the rundown for those in Aiken:

• Elementary schools: 11:30 a.m.
• Middle schools: 12:10 p.m.
• High schools: 12:30 p.m.

Fear not; breakfast and lunch will still be served before these students head out! Specific dismissal times for Aiken County schools include:

• Ridge Spring-Monetta and Busbee Elementary at 11:55 a.m.
• A.L. Corbett Middle, Wagener-Salley High, and Aiken Scholars Academy at noon.
• Ridge Spring-Monetta Middle at 12:15 p.m. and High at 12:20 p.m.
• And, don’t forget, the Center for Innovative Learning will let out at 1:30 p.m.

It’s worth noting that half-day schedule students requiring transportation won’t attend school on Tuesday due to safety concerns regarding mid-day bus routes. After-school care and events have been scrapped for today as well, with district offices shutting down by 2 p.m.

Aiken Technical College and Augusta University Respond

As the storm rolls in, Aiken Technical College is holding steady with their classes as planned but will keep a close eye on the forecasts for any needed changes. Augusta Technical College, however, is taking the precautionary route and closing all campuses on Tuesday to keep everyone safe.

In a bid to keep things running smoothly, Augusta University is shifting all classes to remote learning for the day, canceling in-person activities and ensuring residence hall students are informed about what to expect.

Getting the Kids Home and Staying Warm

For parents in Burke County, special needs students will be headed home at 12:30 p.m., with middle and high school students dismissed at 1 p.m., and elementary students at 1:30 p.m. A distance learning day is already planned for Wednesday, complete with meals provided for ready-to-learn students.

Meanwhile, in Columbia County, classes will also be released early on Tuesday. High schoolers are set to leave at 11:05 a.m., middle schoolers at 11:00 a.m., and elementary kids at 12:10 p.m. And, as a reminder, all after-school events are canceled across Columbia County, adding more changes as weather updates come through.

Weather Advisory and Local Support

With snow and sleet accumulation forecasted to be anywhere from one to three inches, local officials advise caution during commutes on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning due to slick roads. To help those in need, free bus service will be provided to overnight warming centers in Augusta, running from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The courtroom at the Screven County Sheriff’s Office is also throwing open its doors as a warming center nightly from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. Local officials are continuously assessing the situation to determine if more sheltering options will be needed as the storm unfolds.

As the winter weather makes its way into the state, take care and stay informed about the latest announcements for your area. Stay safe, Georgia!

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

HERE Resources

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Additional Resources

• Augusta Chronicle
• WRDW
• WFXG
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Winter Storm
• Google Search: Winter Storm Georgia