Atlanta's 'Snowpocalypse' turned ordinary commutes into chaos, confusion

Yahoo News ^ | 1/30/14 | Tim Skillern

[Kartographer]

It’s likely not the birthday celebration James Freeman wished for.

The Rome, Ga., resident spent Tuesday — his 31st birthday — slogging across 72 miles of icy metro-Atlanta roads for 12 hours after leaving Norcross at 2:30 p.m.

“Some called it ‘Snowpocalypse,’ others ‘Snowmageddon.’ I called it my birthday,” Freeman shared in a first-person account he wrote for Yahoo News on Thursday.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

I sincerely hope the New Mexicans in Tumbleweed Town are prepared. Some might not get out of the house for days!

[sickoflibs]

RE :”I packed appropriate gear, just incase.”

In the snow months ~ December to March here I keep the boots, heavy winter coat, hat and gloves in my car for emergencies as I regularly drive in snow.

Dealing with other Maryland drivers in winter weather is an adventure.

On my phone I have a free app called WAZE nav function with voice map directions and on the spot reporting of traffic, accidents, police, traffic fine cameras.

Its great for leaving the highway at night onto side roads I am not familiar with, to get out of traffic.

Here in Maryland the schools would have closed that morning.

[wyowolf]

Congratulations, now if you could just educate the other 100000 or so fellow drivers it would much appreciated..

[FreedomPoster]

Somewhat related, I think you will like my comment here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3117633/posts?page=127#127

[WayneS]

...and a spare water pump?

;-)

[DuncanWaring]

And a set of tools, and a vehicle-sized tent, and heater, and ...

[higgmeister]

Did I not say ‘All Weather’ tires? Do you have a problem with that as well?

I have All Season Tires on my Rav4 but that was never the issue. The subdivision where I live has steep tree lined hills which allows black ice to form and make travel very hazardous. My tires are rated for light snow but do not have studs for ice traction. The problem on most roads and the Interstates was other vehicles blocking the way ahead or crashing out of control into others.

I was fortunate enough to be able to work remotely from home but most people were not released from work or school until after it was to late.

It may help you understand more fully if I tell you I have never seen a hockey game. To my knowledge, I have never seen a hockey skate. We don't do harsh winter very well because we only experience it a few times in our lives.

[Kartographer]

Your complaint was I said snow tires, which I did not. I merely suggested that people with long commutes take just a modicum of caution. I stated that such people should make sure the had: all weather tires on their vehicles, and a sleeping bag, a flashlight, a MRE or some lifeboat biscuits (Me I kept some vacuum packed ritz crackers a jar of peanut butter and some candy), something to drink and maybe an old sweat suit in the trunk.

That’s what you railed against? I will ask you again is that really to much??

To help you understand that I do know of withc I speak, up until a few years ago I lived out past Villa Rica and comuted into Atlanta.

[higgmeister]

And you drove all weather tires and kept ritz crackers and a jar of peanut butter in your car?

My actual complaint was that people having no idea of the circumstances here, were making unreasonable suggestions about what foolish Southerners should have done regarding the snow storm. No amount of preparedness will prevent thousands of other vehicles from blocking the highway, preventing a person from making it to their home.

[Kartographer]

Yes I did. I learn a lesson from the frequent shutdowns of the loop for everything from truck spills and fires to murder suicides.

"A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences."
Proverbs 22:3

[Kartographer]

By the way any amount of preparedness is better than none.

But I shouldn’t be surprised there are so many now days who’s only thought or plan is to sit around waiting on FEMA to come with a warm blanky, a bottle of water, a MRE and a kiss for their boo-boos. Many be even get themselves on TV. How do you think that will workout?

[The_Sword_of_Groo]

It was a poor response by the locals, no doubt. By that I mean both local residents and officials. Although, I will say that much of weather broadcasting earlier in the week emphasized that the worst part of the storm would be south of atlanta which, in all fairness, it was. I saw much worse conditions 60 miles or so south. Macon had probably 2x the snowfall.

Like you, I keep "get home" supplies in my vehicle most of the time. Its just rare that snow/ice is the obstacle keeping me from getting home. Its usually 105 degree weather, and an IFAK and some electrolytes will take care of you. I had the advantage of a few days notice. I parked the company vehicle and pulled the back seat out of my wrangler unlimited (made enough room to sleep in). Had my ILBE pack stuffed with a surplus down sleeping bag with the wool outer layer, coupled with a goretex bivy sack. had appropriate clothes etc, along with esbit stove/sterno and my aluminum can ethanol stove. Hung business clothes in the back. Arrived at the Marriott Renaissance ( the one you can see from the runway at Hartsfield), drove up to the valet and checked my ILBE pack, then drove to a corner of the parking lot and changed into my suit in the jeep. Carried my weapon in my briefcase, got finished with my 1 hour meeting, and repeated the process in reverse. ( I did, in fact, get a few interesting looks as I walked out of the hotel in my suit with my ILBE on my back) I took the airport loop to grant parkway, made a right on US19 and didnt stop until I hit Leesburg. It was honestly one of the most pleasant drives to Atl i have ever had. No traffic, pretty scenery....I just felt bad for the poor folks who were stuck. To reiterate what someone mentioned earlier in the thread, a little preparation goes a long, long way. Its hard to see how many people were affected so seriously by this and not have a little bit of prepper in you. And this was a forseen event. Imagine what it would look like if it had been a complete shock.

Thanks for the heads up on the WAZE app- I'll check that out

[sickoflibs]

RE :”Thanks for the heads up on the WAZE app- I'll check that out “

I never could decide on a GPS nav systen and was glad I didnt after I found this free app.

The user reports accidents, traffic,police, obstructions, fine cameras, gas stations and prices and then gets real time voice and map alerts of them all that others put in while driving, or you can just look them up in a table to plan your trip.

I love when you report traffic: select either light,medium or standstill and it marks everyone’s display on that road map with a colored traffic line and your average speed(that your phone reports) , so they can see where it starts and ends.

WAZE

[The_Sword_of_Groo]

one thing i forgot to mention was that the parking lot at the hotel was nearly empty, and the cars that were there were all parked as closely as possible to the front. this left a huge, untouched area of virgin powder that I felt obligated to tear up. I must've done 50 donuts in the parking lot before the guard told me I had to either stop and get going or i had to let him drive.

6sp manual can be confusing at first, but he got the hang of it pretty quickly...

[greeneyes]

I agree. Chains aren't that expensive, and I would have at least had that. I always have stuff to eat and water to drink even in the summer.

I probably would have left work early and walked to a hotel if there was one nearby. If not, I would have just stayed at work, and slept on the floor. I also always had snacks at my desk, a purse for a pillow and a sweater for cover. Ice is the worst to drive on.

People here just don't get out of their cars and abandon them in the middle of the road. People in 4 wheel drives would come up behind you, get out and push you out of the way and continue on-perhaps giving you a lift to the next gas station or cafe.

Just because something doesn't happen very often, doesn't mean you just pretend it will never happen again. Getting stranded in your car, or being forced to walk in below freezing wet weather is a life threatening experience.

When your life is on the line, do you really just shrug and say it's not my fault???? To me that's just crazy. We get all sorts of natural disasters here, and they have never struck my home or any of my relatives homes. Still, I made sure we put a basement in, and try to be as prepared as possible.

We haven't had a significant quake here since the early 1800’s, but I still try to do what I can to prepare for one, as do many of the businesses in St. Louis. I had a friend that used to live close to Atlanta. She said she was really glad to move to another state, because the people there were just crazy when it came to ice and snow, because they would just abandon their cars in the middle of the interstate, so even when you know how to drive in the bad weather, you can't get around the abandoned vehicles.

[sickoflibs]

I live in Maryland but grew up in a Northern winter state so I enjoy snow driving when few cars are on the road. its fun.

Physics controls the car. If it is pointed forward and neither the wheel nor brakes are changed the moved momentum will keep the car from moving forward, short an obstruction like a huge snowbank.

So stay calm and practice breaking and turning, as those two maneuvers take careful control or skill on icy roads.

I go near the speed limit straight but slow down for turning or stops.

Last winter I had bald tires on an economy car so every icy day was great practice for me, with new tires its now cake.

[sickoflibs]

AHHHH

Correction :” If the car is pointed forward and neither the wheel nor brakes are changed the car’s momentum will keep the car moving straight forward, short an obstruction in the way like a huge snowbank.”

Too late to post.

[mowowie]

Yup, here in MA we use something called SALT.
I don’t really blame Georgia though, how often does this happen?

[sickoflibs]

This is easier reading to start

WAZE Wikipedia

[sickoflibs]

I highly recommend this free phone app WAZE.

The user reports accidents, traffic,police, obstructions, fine cameras, gas stations and prices and then gets real time voice and map alerts of them all that others put in while driving, or you can just look them up in a table to plan your trip. I love reporting Maryland speed traps that warns others using the app approaching those positions.

I also love when we report traffic: select either light,medium or standstill and it marks everyone’s display on that road map with a colored traffic line and your average speed(that your phone reports from its GPS speed calculator) , so they can see where it starts and ends.

And it marks fellow wazers on the map around your position so you can tell if the road ahead has been surveyed recently.

WAZE Wikipedia

WAZE Official site (can create an account here to link with your app)

The best app I have found so far.