City of Atlanta Paralyzed by ‘Snow Jam 2014’ // Mayor Kasim Reed Responds? #ATLSnow [PHOTOS + VIDEO]

A winter storm has paralyzed metro Atlanta and other parts of Georgia and prompted Gov. Nathan Deal to declare a state of emergency for all 159 counties in Georgia Tuesday afternoon (January 28, 2014).

It was all fun and games until people found out they couldn’t get home!

[NEVER FORGET: All White Everything! Atlanta Snow 2011 in Pictures? (PHOTOS)]

As everyone left work around the same time, it only took a few hours for traffic in Atlanta to come to a complete halt, stranding hundreds on icy roads and interstates.

Any hope of a winter wonderland was crushed by the miserable reality that it was dangerous ‘black ice’ coating roads and preventing cars from moving at all. By late Tuesday evening, hundreds of vehicles had been abandoned as many were still stuck on interstates and side streets throughout the metro area.

More details + photos of Atlanta’s ‘SnowJam 2014’ below…

If you take Atlanta’s notorioulsly congested rush-hour traffic and add a few inches of snow, the result is sure to be gridlock.

Factor in decreasing temperatures and hardened ice on interstates in all directions, then you get people stranded for hours on end!

Many ‘yankees’ made fun of our sticky situation online, posting hilarious photos stating ice cubes were causing traffic jams down south, but as the hours passed, the seriousness of the situation hit them like it hit us and the jokes stopped.

For hours, roads and interstates have remained jammed stranding some drivers, and there were too many wrecks to count.

By late Tuesday, the Georgia State Patrol said troopers had investigated over 940 crashes resulting in at least one death (Yvonne C. Nash, 60, of Griffin, died after losing control of her Ford Explorer in Coweta County)?and 104 injuries. ?There was even reports that a child was born in the back of a car that had been stuck on the freeway for hours.

Hundreds of school children ended up sleeping at their schools last night as well as many parents were still stuck in traffic for 12 hours or more.

During a late night press conference, Governor Deal assured parents that State Troopers would be dispatched to ensure the schools were safe and secure while the students were stranded.

Mayor Kasim Reed pleaded with Atlanta residents to stay off the roads in order to give emergency officials a chance to clear them up overnight.

It’s no laughing matter. Many people are still stranded as I type this and local businesses like Home Depot, Target & Whole Foods have all opened their doors to provide shelter to those stranded on the roads.

People in traffic for hours are running out of gas on the freeway and many gas stations are sold out.

It’s no laughing matter?. at all. One of my Instagram followers said it best…

Save your sarcasm and pray for the people stranded outside in the snow & ice.

Were you stuck in Atanta’s ‘SNOW JAM’ 2014?

Photos via Instagram

 

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