Friday, January 4, 2002
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Friday, January 4, 2002 |
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Snow's causes snarls at runways By JOHN
THOMPSON
Residents across the south side of Atlanta woke up to the sight of a gentle snowfall Wednesday morning. By Thursday, the wintry landscape started causing problems as hundreds of people were stranded at Hartsfield International Airport, some sitting in planes on the taxiways for as long as nine hours. The snow started around 7:30 in eastern Coweta and south Fulton County, and by mid-morning had spread north to the airport. In one of the quirks of this storm, forecasters at the National Weather Service said south side residents could see more snow than their mountainous neighbors on the north side of Atlanta. In fact, forecasters were saying as much as six inches of snow could blanket the region before the storm moved up the eastern coast. In South Fulton County the region's biggest economic engine went into snow mode early Wednesday. At 9 a.m., Hartsfield Internaional Airport's snow desk was activated in preparation for snow and inclement weather predicted by the National Weather Service. The snow desk operates 24 hours a day as necessary to monitor runway conditions. Hartsfield is equipped with 10 snowplows, eight deicing vehicles, five broom trucks, five salt and sand spreaders and three snow blowers. The facility's 12 designated deicing pads on concourse E have been opened for aircraft. Passengers were advised to allow an additional hour for travel to the airport. By late Wednesday night and early Thursday morning, several flights had been postponed and many travelers sat on the Tarmac and waited to either de-plane or have their planes deiced. Fulton County commissioners conducted their 10 a.m. commission meeting Wednesday and no major cancellations had occurred by late Wednesday. By noon Wednesday, Coweta County trucks were loaded with sand and motor graders have been checked and were at the ready. The county's road crews were ready to clear the main travel arteries and sand down icy spots and bridges. County crews will keep the county roadways clear, while the state Department of Transportation works on such major highways as Ga. highways 16, 34 and 54. Bill Cawthorne, Public Works director, says his department is prepared to respond as the need arises. By late Wednesday, two cancellations had already occurred in Coweta County. Director Bill McCorkle said the Coweta County Department of Family and Children Services office closed at noon Wednesday and was scheduled to reopen at noon Thursday, weather permitting. The Coweta County Board of Zoning Appeals also canceled its regular monthly meeting scheduled for Wednesday at 7 p.m. The meeting has been rescheduled for Jan. 7 at 7 p.m. in the Magistrate courtroom on the second floor of the County Administration Building in downtown Newnan. More cancellations occurred Thursday morning as nearly six inches of snow covered the ground. The Coweta County commissioners rescheduled their meeting from 9 a.m. Thursday to the same time next Tuesday morning.
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