Sheriff’s Office warns to stay off roads

  • Thomas Woody of Ellijay took this pic of his truck earlier today. He says, "Do not do what I did! The roads are getting rough, and I’m home now!"
    Thomas Woody of Ellijay took this pic of his truck earlier today. He says, "Do not do what I did! The roads are getting rough, and I’m home now!"
  • Sgt. Stephanie Pim of the Gilmer County Sheriff's Department says, "Go home and be with your families or the warmth of your home. We already have multiple stranded motorists, including GCSO staff. We have reports of multiple vehicle wrecks. Please be safe."
    Sgt. Stephanie Pim of the Gilmer County Sheriff's Department says, "Go home and be with your families or the warmth of your home. We already have multiple stranded motorists, including GCSO staff. We have reports of multiple vehicle wrecks. Please be safe."
  • Maddox Drive (Photo by Robbie Bills)
    Maddox Drive (Photo by Robbie Bills)

    This story has been updated as of 1 p.m.

    All roads in Gilmer County have become “treacherous” and “impassible” from the winter storm, according to Gilmer County deputies.

    “To keep yourselves and our deputies safe, please do not attempt traveling unless absolutely necessary,” the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office stated in a mobile app push alert.

    Snowy roads 011025
    Sgt. Pim@8:51AM
    Per Deputies, at this time, ALL Gilmer County Roads are become treacherous and impassable, covered with ice and snow. They are now responding to drivers that are sliding into ditches. To keep yourselves and our deputies safe, PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TRAVELING UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. (Picture from Clear Creek Road)

    Deputies have been responding to wrecks, drivers sliding into ditches and abandoned vehicles. GCSO staff members have also been stranded.

    GCSO Captain Frank Copeland said the ice is making roads extremely slick, especially on hills and shaded streets.

    If a person’s car does become stranded, Copeland said, “Stay with your vehicle and call 911. Then as the situation progresses, we can determine what needs to be done. If we can get there, we can get there. If not, then we’ll take whatever actions are necessary to get the person out.”

    The city of Ellijay has shut down Corbin Hill Road. Coosawattee Drive is also closed. Highway 52 West, near Conasauga Road, is barricaded and shut down. More closures are expected throughout the day.

    The Coosawattee River Resort has notified its residents that Ogden Drive and Newport Drive are both blocked by abandoned vehicles. Ellington Gate is closed, with people directed to use the Main Gate.

    Georgia Governor Brian Kemp declared a statewide “state of emergency” on Thursday, asking people to limit travel as much as possible while crews work to clear roads.

    The Georgia Department of Transportation has treated Highway 515. Gilmer County Public Works is continuing its efforts to plow and salt local roads.

    “We've got all of our snow management equipment that we have out on the road right now,” Public Works director Ryan Steingruber said. “We are getting roads as fast as we can and as safely as we can,”

    Steingruber explained that the main concerns he has going into Saturday include roads freezing over with black ice, and the possibility of power outages occurring.

    “The snow is not such a big deal as it is the ice that's forecasted to be coming in,” Steingruber noted. “That's when you have the ice forming on tree branches and powerlines, that’s where you’re going to have your power outages from.”

    Neither Georgia Power, nor Amicalola Electric Membership Corporation, is reporting any outages at this time.