Rain in Atlanta: Mayor closes city, urges businesses to close

ATLANTA — Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed announced a plan this morning to close City of Atlanta government offices, including Parks and Recreation facilities and the Municipal Court, at 11 a.m. in response to expected severe winter weather.

It is currently raining in the Atlanta area and freezing temperatures are expected to hit the city around 11 p.m. Meanwhile, ahead of a second winter storm this week, Gov. Nathan Deal issued a new state of emergency for 21 counties beginning Thursday evening and lasting through Sunday, Jan. 24, at midnight.

The City of Atlanta has been coordinating closely with local and state agencies, including the Atlanta-Fulton County Emergency Management Agency, Atlanta Public Schools, and the Fulton and Dekalb County School Districts. All State of Georgia government offices will close at 12 p.m. noon today, followed by Fulton County government offices closing at 1:30 p.m.

Atlanta Public Schools will dismiss students using a staggered release, with elementary schools students dismissed at 11 a.m., high school students dismissed at 12 p.m., and middle school students dismissed at 1 p.m. Fulton and Dekalb County schools will also dismiss students using a staggered release, closing all schools two hours early.

Mayor Reed asked private employers in the City of Atlanta to release employees at 2 p.m. today, allowing flexibility for employees with students in the Atlanta Public Schools system. Additionally, Mayor Reed advised all City of Atlanta residents to be home by 4 p.m., and once safe at home remain there to allow city and state agencies to treat and clear roads.

The Department of Public Works plans to begin pre-treating priority bridges and priority routes
And operate on 12-hour continual shifts until weather conditions have subsided. The Department of Public Works has nine (9) brine trucks and 23 sand spreaders available for use with approximately 3,000 tons of salt mixture for the city’s 200 center line miles of priority route roadways including 40 bridges, 6 hospitals, and 16 precincts in the Atlanta Police Department.

The City of Atlanta Office of Constituent Services and Department of Parks and Recreation will open the emergency overflow shelter at the Old Adamsville Recreation Center at 5 p.m. today. Capacity limitations at Old Adamsville allows for 100 individuals (men, women and children). Pets are not allowed at the shelter. The address at Old Adamsville Emergency Shelter is 3404 Delmar Lane, Atlanta, GA 30331. For more information, please contact the Office of Constituent Services at 404-330-6023.