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Winter Storm Octavia in the South: Hundreds of Thousands Without Power; 5 Dead Due to Icy Road Conditions
Winter Storm Octavia in the South: Hundreds of Thousands Without Power; 5 Dead Due to Icy Road Conditions
Jan 17, 2024 3:31 PM

Winter Storm Octavia dealt a sturdy blow to the South, leaving hundreds of thousands without power and killing five people due to its icy blast. Tuesday, as residents clean up from the mess left behind, they'll have to deal with brutally cold temperatures invading some of the hardest-hit areas.

Five deaths have been reported from Octavia's impacts so far:

Two deaths in Franklin, Tennessee: Mother and son hit by semi on icy roads while attempting to assist at a crash sceneOne death in Garden City, Kansas: 45-year-oldLanhTranh, who died when his car skidded on ice and hit a trainOne death in Knox County, Tennessee: fatal crash involving two vehiclesOne death in Hertford County, North Carolina: 19-year-old female driver killed after losing control on icy roads

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"From widespread snow in Kentucky to icing in Tennessee, north Georgia, northern South Carolina and North Carolina, travel conditions across the south are treacherous Tuesday morning," said weather.com meteorologist "Locations that aren't treated, plowed or do not dry up, could have continued travel problems into Wednesday. This is especially the case in Middle Tennessee, where temperatures won't rise above freezing on Tuesday."

, many of which were in the South, according to the flight-tracking website FlightAware. But that was just the beginning– Octavia's impacts played a huge role in some 1,400 additional flights being canceled Tuesday morning.

Here's how states are handling Octavia's effects:

Alabama

With cold air moving in behind the ice storm that affected many northern Alabama counties, residents fear Tuesday's high temperatures won't be warm enough to thoroughly melt everything Octavia left behind.

Emergency managers reported ice on trees, buildings and roadways all over northern Alabama Tuesday morning, according to The Associated Press.

In anticipation of inclement road and weather conditions, Birmingham-area schools for Tuesday, according to AL.com. The website of northern Alabama schools that would be closed or opening a few hours late on Tuesday.

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley over the weekend, including the Alabama Emergency Management Agency, Alabama National Guard, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and the Alabama Department of Transportation, according to a news release.

"With winter weather expected to impact Alabama, we are taking precautions to protect Alabamians," Bentley said. "Alabamians must also prepare and stay winter aware as weather conditions may change unexpectedly."

Arkansas

About remained without power Tuesday morning as the cleanup began from Octavia's damaging ice. Several out-of-state reserve workers were brought in to help restore power to those affected.

The City of Little Rock will close Tuesday due to hazardous roadways, according to a city press release.

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Lauren Adamski of Cabot of Springhill Baptist Hospital during the ice storm, KATV-TV reported. It was quite the ordeal, as Adamski's husband David told KATV, "So, I get everything unloaded, I'm breaking ice away from the truck, couldn't even get the doors unlocked." Icy conditions hampered a quick rush to the hospital, prompting the parking lot delivery. Mother and son are doing well.

Tractor trailers caused a major backup on Interstate 30 between Benton and Malvern Monday, KARK-TV said. The stretch of , and station reporter Josh Berry said it was taking commuters over an hour and 45 minutes to make it just 10 miles.

Georgia

Ice accumulationonpower lines led to severe power outages in North Georgia Monday night, with Georgia Power reportingTuesday morning.

Northeast of Atlanta, the worst impacts were being felt from the ice. In Hall County, Flowery Branch mayor Mike Miller said and urged everyone to stay off the roads, AJC.com reported.

Nearly all metro Atlanta school districts canceled Tuesday classes. Cobb County Schools announced Tuesday closures via Twitter, and additional school districts, including Fulton and DeKalb counties, , as well, WSB-TV reported.

Gov. Nathan Deal announced , WSB said. Agencies in Atlanta will open at 10 a.m., and those in north Georgia counties will open at 11 a.m. However, Department of Driver Services centers will be closed in various counties, the report added.

Sunday evening, Dealfor 15 North Georgia counties under a winter storm warning, a state press release said. Deal noted, "I am issuing this order out of an abundance of caution, so the state can make all preparations necessary to quickly and efficiently address any potential winter weather problems."

The University of North Georgia closed at Noon Monday, the school announced. Kennesaw State University would operate on a delayed opening Tuesday, the school announced via Twitter.

Last year in Atlanta, a winter storm snarled traffic for days and caused major problems. The government's response to the 2014 storm was widely criticized. This year, Atlanta and the state prepared early for Octavia's impacts.

"We are now 24/7 until we perceive that the threat has diminished, and that may be at least Wednesday but maybe even later in the week," said Georgia Emergency Management Agency Director Jim Butterworth.

Illinois

Southern Illinois has reported some of the highest snow totals from Octavia so far, with more than a foot of snow reported in Eddyville.

The storm forced Southern Illinois University to cancel classes on Monday, according to The Associated Press. Officials have warned residents to stay off the roads unless travel is absolutely necessary because the snow and sleet are expected to reduce visibilities and make highways slick.

Kentucky

Roadways remained in bad shape Tuesday morning, after a day of snow and ice coated the highways and broke some snowfall records. Local officials warned drivers that it still wasn't safe to travel.

"[Road conditions] are very, very bad ," Laurel County sheriff's deputy Gerald Acciardo Jr. told Kentucky.com. "People need to stay home unless it's an emergency."

Treacherous road conditions contributed to multiple accidents and caused the southbound in Hardin County Monday, according to WLKY-TV.

Local reports noted driving conditions in and around Louisville were miserable, and accidents plagued Interstates 264 and 265.

Hundreds of across the state, according to a list provided by WHAS-TV. Jefferson County Public Schools in Louisville announced Tuesday closures via Twitter:

Gov. Steve Beshear in response to the treacherous weather conditions, WKYT reported. Beshear said, "By declaring a state of emergency now for the entire state, we can deploy any needed state assistance, including National Guard troops if necessary, without delay."

Bowling Green received more than 9 inches of snow from Octavia, the biggest snowfall from any event in the city since 1968. Louisville and Lexington also set daily snowfall records Monday.

Mississippi

As of 9 a.m. CST Tuesday, in the state, Entergy reported. Northcentral Electric Power Association and Entergy utility crews are working to restore power to those affected.

The State Emergency Operations Center was by the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, MS News Now noted. Several state agencies also worked to pre-treat highways, gather state troops and collaborate closely with schools, the Red Cross and more to ensure citizens' safety.

Ahead of Octavia's arrival in northern portions of the state, Gov. Phil Bryant Sunday night.

Missouri

Several Missouri Tuesday, according to a list provided by KQFX-TV.

Multiple early Monday morning, with 35 reported by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and 12 reported by the Columbia Police Department, KOMU-TV said.

A car was on Interstate 55 Monday morning, but there were no injuries, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch said.

The and closed campus on Monday, according to the university's website.

"This area hasn't seen much snow all winter," said , meteorologist at The Weather Channel, reporting live from St. Louis on Monday. "The roads are reported as snow-covered, but I think people are taking their time, and it happens to be a federal holiday."

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North Carolina

Problems continued to escalate all over North Carolina Tuesday morning as Octavia's impacts had a firm grip on the state.

Nearly 50,000 customers were without power statewide, a number that continued to rise. Most state offices were closed for the dayand virtually all of the 115 school districts were closed Tuesday, according to The AP.

Gov. Pat McCrory said crews were working to treat frozen roadways, but the solution being used isn't as effective against refreezing. Therefore, he asked residents to stay home and off the roads so crews can work to get roads in good condition again.

A 19-year-old girl when she lost control of her car on icy roads, 13 News Now reported.

Hundreds of closures were reported across the state Monday night, and several schools announced, according to WRAL-TV.

Injuries are unknown at this time after an Monday evening, 11 Eyewitness News reported.

The American Red Cross in eastern and central parts of the state to assist those in need, 11 Eyewitness News said. Disaster crews also mobilized to help residents affected by the inclement weather.

A state of emergency was declared by McCrory early Monday afternoon.

Schools across the Triangle regionand closures, WRAL said. More than 200 flights were canceled Monday morning at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, according to FlightAware.

North Carolina Department of Transportation Crews for counties in the state's Triangle region, 11 Eyewitness News reported.

South Carolina

More than 75,000 customers were without power Tuesday morning in South Carolina, a number that is slowly declining.

The South Carolina Department of Transportation reported on Interstates 85, 385, 26 and along Interstate 77 due to freezing temperatures, WIS-TV reported. Some schools also announced delays and closures for Tuesday.

Clemson University by Octavia, including the main campus and Upstate locations, at 2:30 p.m. Monday, according to the university's website.

The South Carolina Department of Transportation , FOX Carolina reported. Trucks began pre-treating the roads with a salt brine mixture around 10 a.m., and lighter traffic allowed for more efficient work. The crews primary focus was U.S. and state highways. Across the state, additional crews are on standby to continue pre-treatment once the precipitation begins.

Tennessee

Roads are extremely dangerous all over the state Tuesday, and thousands remain without power because of Octavia's icy and snowy effects.

"," Tennessee Department of Transportation spokesperson Heather Jensen told The Tennessean. "When temperatures drop below 20 degrees, our salt becomes ineffective. We want people to have realistic expectations."

Hazardous roads contributed to athat killed one, WBIR-TV reported. The Tennessee Highway Patrol said the two-vehicle crash occurred at Mascot Road and Andrew Johnson Highway. Two more deaths were reported Monday night when a mother and her son and were struck by a semi, Franklin Police News said.

Nashville Mayor Karl Dean said in a 12-hour span, emergency crews responded to and 23 injury crashes, WSMV-TV reported.

The National Weather Service in Morristown confirmed widespread tree damage, power outages and heavy ice accumulation in Eastern Tennessee Monday night.

NWS Nashville confirmed with The Weather Channel that Octavia is the most significant ice storm the city has seen in 20 years.

Metro Nashville Public Schools will be closed Tuesday:

Lt. Bill Miller, Tennessee Highway Patrol Public Information Officer, said troops responded to between 200 and 300 crashes Monday, NBC reported. Miller noted there were no injuries.

Multiple , including incidents involving jackknifed tractor-trailers, WSMV-TV reported. A rollover on westbound Interstate 440 was among those incidents, as well as a multi-vehicle crash involving 12 to 13 vehicles on westbound Interstate 24, the report added.

Knox County schools announced Tuesday closures via Twitter:

Knox County courts , as well, WBIR-TV said. The Tennessean said the state House and Senate .

The Nashville Rescue Mission sent out "cold patrols" each day this week , the Tennessean says.

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