Kemp issues new Georgia emergency order as snow and extreme cold threaten travel and utilities statewide

Statewide emergency declared as winter weather approaches

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has issued a new statewide state of emergency as another round of winter weather is forecast to move into the state, bringing snowfall in parts of north and east Georgia along with sharply colder temperatures and dangerous wind chills. The order is intended to speed coordination among state agencies as road conditions, power reliability, and public safety operations face renewed pressure.

The emergency declaration activates the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency’s state response posture and supports pre-positioning of personnel and equipment. The order also includes consumer and logistics provisions that commonly accompany storm-response actions, including restrictions on price gouging and temporary adjustments affecting commercial transportation tied to response and supply deliveries.

Forecast points to accumulating snow and hazardous roadways

State officials say forecast guidance indicates at least some accumulating snow is likely, with the greatest impacts expected where winter storm warnings are in effect. Even lighter totals can create rapid deterioration on roads when surface temperatures remain below freezing. Forecasters also expect strong wind gusts and a period of extreme cold that could extend hazardous travel conditions beyond the end of precipitation, especially on bridges, overpasses, and untreated secondary roads.

Officials are urging residents to limit travel before and during the storm, citing risks ranging from reduced braking ability on icy pavement to stranded motorists and delayed emergency response times.

Transportation agencies move into pretreatment and plowing plans

The Georgia Department of Transportation has begun pretreating roadways along the storm’s projected path, focusing on interstates and state routes and prioritizing access to hospitals, urgent care facilities, and critical public-safety corridors. State plans call for crews to shift from brine operations to plowing as conditions warrant, with extended staffing schedules intended to sustain operations through the peak travel-impact window.

• Road pretreatment on key routes ahead of snowfall
• Transition to plowing operations as accumulation increases
• Emphasis on emergency access routes and high-traffic corridors

Utilities and public safety prepare for cascading impacts

Emergency planners are also treating the incoming cold as a separate threat layer. Prolonged subfreezing temperatures can increase the likelihood of burst pipes and complicate recovery by keeping ice and snow on road surfaces. Wind can contribute to downed limbs and power interruptions, with outages creating heightened risk for vulnerable residents during periods of low wind-chill values.

Residents are being advised to reduce travel, prepare for short-notice changes in local operations, and use caution as conditions may remain hazardous into the following workday in the most affected areas.

What the emergency order changes

Beyond operational coordination, the emergency declaration expands the state’s ability to mobilize resources and enforce protections during the storm period. Key effects include tighter controls on unfair pricing for essential goods and measures designed to improve supply movement and response capacity during peak demand.