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Gov. Deal declares state of emergency ahead of winter storm

Vehicles drive south on a snow-and-ice covered Interstate 575, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015, in Kennesaw, Ga. The National Weather Service said the greatest threat of a wintry mix of rain, sleet and snow early Tuesday was generally north of Atlanta. Parts of the north Georgia mountains were under a winter storm warning, where forecasters said snow and sleet accumulations of up to 3 inches were possible. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Vehicles drive south on a snow-and-ice covered Interstate 575, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015, in Kennesaw, Ga. The National Weather Service said the greatest threat of a wintry mix of rain, sleet and snow early Tuesday was generally north of Atlanta. Parts of the north Georgia mountains were under a winter storm warning, where forecasters said snow and sleet accumulations of up to 3 inches were possible. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) Vehicles drive south on a snow-and-ice covered Interstate 575, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015, in Kennesaw, Ga. The National Weather Service said the greatest threat of a wintry mix of rain, sleet and snow early Tuesday was generally north of Atlanta. Parts of the north Georgia mountains were under a winter storm warning, where forecasters said snow and sleet accumulations of up to 3 inches were possible. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

ATLANTA (AP) – Georgia’s governor has declared a state of emergency ahead of a winter storm that’s moving into the region.

Gov. Nathan Deal said in a release that the state of emergency spans 50 counties in north Georgia beginning at 2 p.m. Wednesday. Deal says state offices will close at noon to avoid traffic jams during afternoon and evening snowfall – which crippled the region during a January 2014 storm.

Despite the emergency declaration going into effect Wednesday afternoon, Deal says state resources being deployed to address the storm will also be available overnight.

Deal says 80 additional Georgia Department of Transportation workers and 15 “strike teams” have been moved into areas expecting to see snow and freezing rain. The agency is also dispatching trucks to apply brine to major highways.

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* Tennessee’s winter storm death toll hits 30 * Winter-weary area braces for more snow; up to 6 inches forecast across region * Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam urges people to check on neighbors as storm moves in * Red Cross: Prepare as winter weather rebounds in Metro Atlanta, North Georgia * Alabama governor declares state of emergency ahead of winter storm