Atlanta's Long Bitter Winter
For immediate release:Southern City in Recovery Mode
(ACPA-Atlanta) Atlanta is slowly getting back to normal following one of its worst winters in recent memory. It started in the early hours of Jan 2nd with white frost covering the grass and the temperature dial plunging to -7C/23F.
Without warning the South East had suddenly been thrown into its worst disaster since Katrina.
Actions stations were called in our home that morning. Hot old fashioned-oatflakes were prepared
for the first time in 15 years and Lord knows that stuff is just not easy to make.
After a frantic search, I finally found my Weather Emergency Kit and broke out the thick coat, scarf and hand
warming thingies.
Nature's Wrath
After an emotional extended hug with my wife and kids, they rushed back upstairs under the covers, while I carefully opened the garage door and made a dash for the car. Once securely inside, I pressed the seat warming button; thankfully it worked. Nervously I pressed the garage door opener and inched slowly outward to face nature's wrath.
It was tough out there. Experts on the radio were warning us not to roll down any windows, advising that in these temperatures you could catch a nasty cold in as little as 30 minutes.
And that long walk from the car park to the office, I will never forget it. I thought of Peary and his lonely walk from base camp and wondered if I would make it.
I was glad I had read the instructions for my scarf.
Traumatic Images
Oh but the pitiful site of Atlantans in those hats, coats and scarves, those deformed images will remain with me forever. An ordinary people suddenly snapped up into an onslaught from Mother Nature -the extent of the disaster becoming clearer as folks in hushed voices called loved ones and friends to cancel weekend barbecue plans. We were reminded of the old adage, "Man proposes and God disposes".
The terror went on for 2 long days and nights. By Friday we had crawled above freezing to 7C/55F, and on Sunday it was 19C/66F. Scores were suffering from scarf burn, others had heat exhaustion from leaving coats and hats on for too long. The long winter was over but the trauma will forever be etched in the collective consciousness of a traumatized Atlanta.
Its at times such as this that we are at one with our northern brothers and sisters, those in Indiana, Illinois and other godforsaken places that we could never live in. Indeed as the cards and letters of support from my friends up there start to arrive next week, I will read them with a tear in my eye for a country brought together through severe weather conditions; that tossed aside hand warming thingie serving as a reminder of the bitter times we got through together.
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