We’ve heard all the jokes about Southerners not being able to drive if two snowflakes fall together. But what those jokes don’t mention is the fact that no one can drive on ice coated streets. Atlanta is gridlocked. There was a major error in judgment and all one million plus people in the city hit the streets at the same time. Add to that thousands of big trucks on the major highways that jack-knifed or stalled out and you have a recipe for disaster.


The news coming out of the Atlanta area has been filled with pictures of stranded motorists. Children has to spend the night at school because the buses could not take them home. Other students were stranded on school buses for hours and even all night. This is the stuff of nightmares for parents. My children are grown, my grandchildren could have been included in this debacal. Luckily they were not. My heart goes out to the children, parents and teachers who have been caught up in this mess.

Slowly the traffic is beginning to move through Atlanta, still there are people stranded.
Yet in the midst of all this there are the stories that make you smile. A baby delivered safely by a police officer on 285. Target, Home Depot, CVS, Kroger and other stores allowing stranded motorist to spend the night in the warmth of their stores. Many of those stores are not open 24 hours, but chose to remain open to help the citizens in need. Kudos to them!
There were Facebook pages set up to help people stranded on the expressway with people in the area who offered help.
One man made PB&J sandwiches and walked to the expressway to hand out food to those who’d been stranded for 18+ hours.
So things continue to be difficult here in Georgia today. Hopefully everyone will soon be home and safe. The cold is depressing, the icy roadways are depressing. Hoping everyone stays in and is safe.
If you need a good read to warm you up A Matter of Trust is available on Amazon. Thankfully, Amazon is open 24/7 even in the midst of a blizzard!

http://youtu.be/dM5jJO9KZCY

http://youtu.be/dM5jJO9KZCY

5 comments

  1. Mary Marvella // February 1, 2014 at 6:19 PM  

    Great blog. I am taking more vitamin D! I suspect a lot of good stories will come from the snow/ice-in and the problems. A lot of folks found the opportunity to do good things.

  2. Mary Ricksen // February 2, 2014 at 1:43 PM  

    There are a lot of good people out there. Trouble is you mostly hear about the idiots!!! Nice to hear people still care...

  3. debjulienne // February 4, 2014 at 11:45 AM  

    I know we need the snowpack and water...but I'm hoping people slow down and think before they go into the snow...too many dangerous things can and have happened. Praying for my beloved South.

  4. Beth Trissel // February 5, 2014 at 8:07 PM  

    I was astonished by the news reports of all the bedlam from the ice storm and wondered why people weren't warned to stay at home. You will find fuel for a new story, I bet, like MM said.

  5. Josie // February 9, 2014 at 9:32 AM  

    Yes, let's all be thankful for Amazon--which is open 24/7. Traffic was at a halt in Atlanta due to the snowstorm. Charlotte, NC, seemed to fare a little better, although all the schools were closed.