snow day.....Ciara Hoehne

The soft, delicate flakes of snow are typically not seen as a danger. However, in Georgia, at the first sight of these particles of ice, people begin to worry. Talk of schools closing is common and most plan their schedules to remain at home until the weather has passed.

This Friday, we were told we would encounter this rare phenomenon. After hearing this discussed repeatedly, most of the student body was divided into two main beliefs. Idea one was school would be canceled and it would turn the four-day week into a three-day week. However, the skeptical portion of the student body believed the snow might occur but school would resume the very next day, like always.

As the snow began to fall Thursday night, the news was on continuously, in hope of finding Fulton County schools closed. However, as 10:45 rolled around with report of closed schools, I began to think it would not happen. At the last minute however, it was announced that Fulton County schools would be closed. Along with this announcement of no school, roads were being shut down as well. This part was a bit concerning because if the main highways were being closed, what was expected of this snowfall?

The next morning, the yards and houses were all blanketed in a thin covering of snow. Under that cover of snow, there was a layer of ice that destroyed any ideas of leaving the house to go hang out with friends.

This millimeter thick layer of ice was the cause of many accidents for those who chose to attempt driving on it. It is strange to think that such a thin layer of ice is all it takes to cause so many car wrecks. Southern drivers seem to have difficulty in understanding how to navigate icy roads. This can be directly seen in the 29 car pile up witnessed on Friday. This is not the only horror story as a result of icy roads. People lose control of their vehicles and damage to others or themselves follows close behind. Although the ice is a scary thing to encounter on the roads, people have to stay calm about it. It’s not something to freak out over because the panic seems to cause more harm than good. It is understandable for a driver to be gripped by fear when the car loses traction and glides of the ice. However, if the driver stays clam and slowly and gradually guides the car over to a safe stopping [point, then disaster can be averted.

In the North, students and adults come to expect many feet of snow. They still go to school and work. No panic of snow and/or ice registers in the minds of the majority of the population. This is the polar opposite of the South. It seems almost laughable that life shuts down for barely and inch of snow. Although it seems like a drastic measure for schools to be closed, it is still an exciting prospect for this to occur, and gives students great happiness in their free-day.