EMA Director: ‘Little to no snow expected’

According to Rabun County Emergency Management Director Micheal Mazarky, little to no snow is expected despite recent forecasts that predicted a harsh winter storm.

If anything, Mazarky said it is possible some black ice could develop but the weather is too unpredictable to make an accurate statement.

“With the weather being so unpredictable as it is, we just need to keep an eye out and monitor the forecasts that are coming out from the National Weather Service in Greenville. The temperature is supposed to drop and if there is any precipitation on the ground, then we need to worry about black ice,” he said. “It depends on how much rain we get, how much flurries we get if it’s going to do anything at all.”

The best thing to do Mazarky said is to just be prepared, should any winter-related weather occur.

“We just need to be prepared. Have your families emergency kits ready to go and stocked with medication, batteries, flashlights, water and food. Just make sure everything is up to date. You know, just in case we do get some ice and the roads freeze, that way you and your families will be prepared,” he said. “If the roads do freeze, we ask that everyone stay at home to keep yourself and our first responders in the county safe.”

To stay up to date on the latest weather forecasts, Mazarky suggests to not only stay tuned to Sky 96.3 for weather updates on the hour but also suggested visiting the National Weather Service website.

“The best place is the Greenville-Spartanburg National Weather Service. That’s who we get our information from,” he said. “They do have a Facebook and a webpage. So if you’re looking for a good page, I would suggest them.”

The last tip Mazarky advised is to sign up for the county’s Code Red alerts which can be found by visiting the Rabun County Board of Commissioner’s website.