Winter Weather Preparedness

ATLANTA - Despite 70 degree days, Georgia Emergency Management officials are already preparing for the next big winter storm by bringing together over 35 state and local agencies for a practice run.

"Over the past couple years; communication in winter weather has really improved. So events like this help us make sure we are all on the same page," Georgia Department of Transportation spokesperson Natalie Dale said.

The event is a hypothetical winter storm. Each agency has to react as the storm changes over the course of a 48-hour period. One of the decisions that has to be made is when and how to use one of Georgia's newest tools.

"Based on that, we can deploy our brine trucks. It's a salt water mixture that lowers the freezing temperature. We deploy the brine and it keeps the roads a little safer," GEMA Director Jim Butterworth said.

Equally as important as the individual decisions, is the teamwork needed to be successful. It's this combination that will set Georgia up for success this winter.

"We have a great deal of confidence. I am very confident that the team is ready," Butterworth added.