Winter storm: Hall County residents urged to stay home

GAINESVILLE, Ga. - Hall County emergency officials are gearing up for a potentially hazardous winter storm, preparing roads and emergency crews ahead of Friday. Authorities are urging residents to stay off the roads, if possible, to ensure safety. 

"We’re really concerned about ice. That’s going to be the major concern for us," said Joy Licciardi, Hall County government spokesperson. "When there’s a lot of ice, you’re going to have a lot of trees down, you’re going to have power outages."

Licciardi highlighted the county’s worries about road conditions, particularly due to the region’s terrain and proximity to Lake Lanier. "We’re here near the lake, so we have a lot of bridges here. People just need to be very mindful of that. In addition, it’s hilly here throughout the whole county. So you’ve got to be careful—if you’re traveling down a hill, you could lose control of your vehicle. You never know," she said.

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To combat icy conditions, Hall County crews will begin pre-treating bridges and access roads early Friday morning with a brine solution, aiming to prevent severe icing. Emergency staffing will also be increased in anticipation of weather-related incidents.

"We have a few extra units that will be out tomorrow and Saturday, manned with chainsaws and jump kits that can get out to those places where people may be stuck and help them out," said Kimberlie Ledsinger, Public Information Officer for Hall County Fire Rescue.

However, Ledsinger cautioned that emergency response times might be affected by the icy roads. "Sometimes that means having to drive slower because of the ice, and so response times may go up a little bit," she said.

Both officials emphasized the importance of staying home unless absolutely necessary. "We’re really urging people to stay inside, stay off the roads," Ledsinger said. Licciardi echoed that sentiment: "We want people to stay home if they can."

By staying off the roads, residents not only protect themselves but also help first responders reach emergencies more efficiently. "You’re going to make it a lot easier for first responders to get to those in dire emergencies like fires or medical emergencies," Ledsinger added.

For those seeking real-time updates and emergency alerts, residents can sign up for Hall County’s citizen alert system at https://member.everbridge.net/892807736721486/login.