The Decatur Minute

Update: The National Weather Service has cancelled the winter weather advisory for January 29. However, patches of black ice are still possible on roadways and sidewalks this afternoon through tonight. The potential for black ice can be expected especially in sheltered and protected areas or on untreated roads and sidewalks. If you must leave your home, exercise caution when travelling.

If you are in need of a warm place to hang out during the next few days while the temperatures are at their lowest, DeKalb County has opened warming centers for citizens to use as temperatures are expected to drop below freezing. The following stations will open from 7 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29, through noon, Friday, Feb. 1.

• Fire Station 3, 100 N. Clarendon Ave, Avondale GA 30002
• Fire Station 6, 2342 Flat Shoals Road, Atlanta, GA 30316
• Fire Station 15, 2107 Flightway Dr., Chamblee, GA 30341

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for DeKalb County from 3 a.m. through 7 p.m. tomorrow, Jan. 29. A winter weather advisory means that winter weather is expected and that residents should use caution.  Light amounts of wintry precipitation or patchy blowing snow will cause slick conditions and could affect travel if precautions are not taken.

At this point, the City offices will be open for regular business hours tomorrow, but the State of the City address has been rescheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 5. Active Living programs, Children & Youth Services after-school programs, and court sessions scheduled for tomorrow have all been cancelled. Updates will be posted here, decaturga.com and the city’s official social media channels.

For more information on the difference between a winter weather advisory, watch and warning, check out the National Weather Service’s winter information page at www.nws.noaa.gov/om/winter/ww.shtml.

Read Full Post »

Preparing for winter isn’t complicated or expensive. While winter is dangerous, a few simple steps can help you and your family stay safe this season. Here is what NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS) recommends:

Know Your Risk

• A few inches of snow or ice can shut down a city and leave you trapped at home for days.
• Driving on ice and snow-covered roads can lead to car wrecks, injuries and death.
• Snow, ice and wind associated with winter storms can have a huge impact on travel, infrastructure, schools and businesses.
• Some winter storms can cover nearly half the nation, affecting tens of millions of people.  Annually, damages from winter storms add up to over $1 billion.
• Frostbite may develop on exposed skin when temperatures are below freezing. Add wind to below freezing temperatures and frostbite can set in even quicker.
• Other winter dangers include hypothermia and avalanches.
• Flooding is also possible due to snowmelt, ice jams and coastal storms such as Nor’easters.

Take Action

• Before you go out, check the forecast at weather.gov to make sure you’re prepared for the elements. Follow NWS on Twitter and Facebook to stay up to date with the latest weather news
• At home: have an Emergency Preparedness Kit with three days of food, water, prescription medications and other supplies. Also consider obtaining a NOAA Weather Radio.
• Make sure your cell phone is fully charged when a storm is approaching and also anytime you’re planning to leave the house. It could become your life-line should disaster strike.
• In your car: make sure you have food, water and blankets in your trunk. Stay off the road when advised to do so by local authorities.
• Dress for the season: wear loose, warm clothing in layers.
• Don’t forget your pets! Keep them inside during cold weather.
• During and after the storm: never use a generator or kerosene heater indoors – carbon monoxide poisoning is a silent killer.
• After the storm: take breaks when shoveling snow and stay clear of downed power lines.

Be a Force of Nature

• Create a Family Communication Plan so that your loved ones know how to get in touch during an emergency.
• Help your neighbors before and after winter storms – especially the elderly, who are particularly vulnerable.
• Look for opportunities to help your town prepare, such as volunteering with the American Red Cross.
• Register for Smart911

In the event of snow and/or ice in Decatur

• The city will concentrate on providing a usable travel lane in each direction on major streets and clearing sidewalks near MARTA stations.
• The city will work with City Schools of Decatur to make sure entrances, exits, and driveways at the schools are clear.
• Residents should expect to clear their driveways and sidewalks. It is unlikely that the city will be able to clear interior neighborhood residential streets.
• If you, or a neighbor, are a senior, someone with a medical need or someone with special needs, consider creating a safety profile at smart911.com. Stay tuned to thedecaturminute.com blog, City of Decatur GA-Government on Facebook, @downtowndecatur or Twitter, and the city’s website for information about facilities closures.

These simple steps will help keep you safe from blizzards, ice storms and other winter hazards. A little bit of preparation can make a big difference. And many of these steps – such as preparing an Emergency Supplies Kit – will also come in handy for other hazards, such as hurricanes or power outages.

Stay tuned to www.decaturga.com, social media and thedecaturminute.com for up-to-date information.

Read Full Post »

Whether you attended the Concept Alternative/Evaluation Public Workshop #2 on January 16 and want more information, or you missed the workshop but would like to participate, you have come to the right spot. The graphic displays (links are below) will give you the same materials to what the attendees of theConcept Alternative/Evaluation Public Workshop #2 received. We have listed each document along with a description of how it was used at the workshop.

• •  Welcome– This welcomed participants to the Workshop and tells you how to participate and provide your comments.

• •  Project Description– This gives detailed information on the various aspects and history of the Railroad Crossing Improvements @ Atlanta Avenue.

• •  Goals & Objectives– This shows “word clouds” highlighting the greatest areas of concern and the most favored solutions, concepts and ideas. It summarizes project goals and objectives that have been developed from community engagement.

• •  Traffic Patterns– This displays the travel patterns of vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists within the project area.
    • Signal Diagram

• •  Project Concepts- There were seven (7) boards displaying the concepts which emerged from November’s Kick-off Open House and Workshop and from the online Kick-Off Workshop. The seven concepts include:
    • Maintain Existing Geometry
    • “H” at Existing Crossing
    • “H” East of Existing Crossing
    • Olympic to Howard “T”
    • Adair to College “T”
    • Roundabouts
    • Runner-Up Concepts

• • Thank You!– Stay tuned for the next public workshop. Please feel free to forward this to any friends and neighbors who may be interested in participating.

We encourage you to participate in the ONLINE WORKSHOP and use Open City Hall to provide your Evaluation Comments.  The deadline for comments is February 1, 2019.

Mark Your Calendars: the next workshop is scheduled for Thursday, February 28, 4:30– 7:30 pm at the Atlanta Friends Meeting, 701 West Howard Avenue.

Read Full Post »

This is a reminder that all city offices are closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, Jan. 21. The regular Monday City Commission meeting will be held on Tues., Jan. 22 at 7:30 pm.
——
Schedule for Solid Waste & Recycling Services

Regular services for Mon., Jan. 21 will be on Tues., Jan. 22.

Read Full Post »