Just two weeks after Atlanta’s winter storm disaster,weather forecasters are announcing that a bigger and possibly more damaging storm is on its way. The few inches of snow that left Atlanta paralyzed is still giving locals nightmares, as they conjure up visions of destitute traffic conditions, and wide school closures and deserted stores. Georgia’s Governor,Nathan Deal, assured the media Monday that officials are “ahead of the game” after declaring a state of emergency for 45 counties, or including DeKalb and Fulton County which share Atlanta city limits. Atlanta public schools will also be closed Tuesday and Wednesday as a result of the impending storm. After these announcements were made,many Atlanta residents began a crazy sprint to secure child care, fill up empty gas tanks and stock their cupboards full with non-perishable goods and water. Monday night after leaving the CNN Center in Atlanta, and I headed domestic to make a shortlist of items needed to win me through the storm and grabbed my camera just in case I encountered the empty shelves and long lines I was expecting. When I arrived at my local grocery store,it was evident that waves of clamoring shoppers had been streaming through the doors all day. The aisles that held staples like bread, meat, or canned foods and water were almost barren. Lines of tired parents with their children still in school uniforms and college students with carts filled with frozen pizza were extremely long,but most people seemed to be in good spirits. I was even offered a slice of pizza by two journalism students who spotted my CNN badge, but I graciously declined. After grabbing a few items I made my way to the express line where I met a shiny eyed cashier named Felicia who barely had time to give me her first name. She explained that the lines had been growing since the morning and people seemed desperate to win whatever they could before the city shut down. I’ve been here all morning and I will be here all night and it will still be like this.” she said as she handed me my receipt. I left feeling as if Atlanta was better prepared and hoping that this storm was not as astronomical as its hype.
Source: cnn.com