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Lincoln County issues state of emergency, urges residents to avoid travel ahead of forecasted snow
Summary
Lincoln County declared a state of emergency through Feb. 6 after the National Weather Service warned of a powdery snow event expected to begin Saturday morning with 2–4 inches possible. Officials warned of black ice, longer ambulance response times, extra patrols and provided a non-emergency contact number.
Lincoln County officials on Friday declared a countywide state of emergency and urged residents to avoid travel as the National Weather Service forecasts a powdery snowfall beginning Saturday morning.
The county chair announced the proclamation, saying the state of emergency will remain in effect through 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 6, 2026, and that the declaration follows guidance from Governor Kemp. "I issued another state of emergency for Lincoln County," the chair said.
Sheriff Clay Smith said the sheriff's office will increase patrols over the weekend and asked residents to "stay off the roadways" and to keep ATVs and side-by-sides off roadways for safety. "We will have extra patrols out this weekend," Sheriff Smith said, and cautioned the public about black-ice hazards.
Director Broom, Lincoln County emergency management agency director, relayed the National Weather Service outlook and described the event as atypical for the county: "This is gonna be a very unique snow for Lincoln County and that it will not be the heavy, wet snow we're used to. It'll be powdery." He warned that compacted snow from vehicle travel can melt and refreeze as ice, creating dangerous walking and driving conditions.
County officials warned residents that ambulances and other emergency vehicles may take longer to reach callers in hazardous conditions. "We will get to you. It may take us a little bit longer," Director Broom said, urging people to plan for slower response times and to take precautions to prevent burst pipes during extreme cold.
Officials provided practical details and contact information: snowfall is expected to begin around 7 a.m. Saturday with totals of about 2 to 4 inches possible; Saturday night temperatures could fall to about 14°F; and residents should monitor the county website and the county Facebook page for updates. For non-emergency questions, the county provided a non-emergency line at (706) 359-4118 and asked that non-urgent calls be directed there to avoid tying up 911.
The county said its emergency team will reassess conditions Saturday or Sunday and post any closures or follow-up briefings on the county website and Facebook. Officials closed the briefing by again urging caution: enjoy the snow but be careful on steps, sidewalks and roadways.
The declaration does not specify additional actions in the transcript beyond resource coordination and public messaging; no formal vote was recorded in the briefing.
