Atlanta Snowmageddon: The 1982 Version

A Story in a North American Missions Agency Series

(Accuweather)

Atlanta Snowmageddon: The 1982 Version

My memory suggests it was the first or second week of February in 1982. Snow was forecast for Atlanta. Was it a trace? Was it a couple of inches?

No matter. The word’s “Atlanta” and “snow” when used in a sentence sent Atlanta natives into a panic. Having grown up in Baltimore and Philadelphia I was not panicked.

I should have been. The problem was not me. The problem was Atlanta native drivers.

The snow began falling around 3:00 p.m. at 1340 and 1350 Spring Street NW—offices of the Home Mission Board, SBC (hereafter HMB). By 3:15 p.m. it was announced the buildings were closing immediately.

I finished up what I was working on and was ready to leave by 3:30 p.m. I looked out my window and the Downtown Connector Long-Term Parking Lot—better known as I-85 and I-75—was at a standstill.

By interstate it was 20 miles to my home halfway between Avondale Estates and Stone Mountain. By surface roads it was 13 miles. I decided I might fare better on surface roads.

I called my wife—Betty—and told her I was leaving and what the interstate already looked like. I told her not to worry about me as with my stick shift Chevrolet compact car I could navigate the streets just fine. I just did not know if the drivers in front and behind me could.

I predicted it might take me up to two hours or so to get home.

The Journey

I started out taking it slow as I headed south toward downtown and then east toward Decatur. Within 30 minutes I saw cars off to the side of the road. A few fender benders. Plus, individuals who were pushing cars who had gotten stuck.

Three hours into my journey I decided Betty might be worried. I pulled off the road and found a pay telephone to call Betty. (Remember this was still a half-dozen years before even bag mobile phones were widely used.)

Betty was worried. “Where are you? Are you all right? Are you going to be able to get home?”

I was in Decatur near Scott Boulevard Baptist Church which some of you might remember. I was fine. My car was fine. I was confident I could get home.

As I restarted my journey, I came to a hill. A series of cars in front of me—likely all Atlanta natives—as their cars slid a little bit to one side or the other, put their foot on the brake pedal.

Big mistake! (Although I guess it was better than trying to “gun it” to get up the hill.)

Fortunately, a group of people were already helping people get a push to get up the hill. They even had to push me as I was stopped by the cars in front of me.

Soon after I got past Decatur the traffic thinned out, but snow picked up speed and the size of the flakes increased.

It took me another two and one-half hours to get home following my call to my wife. We were all glad to see one another—Betty, our three-year old Jonathan, and three-month old Allison who was asleep by then.

Snowbound

Four inches of snow fell in the Atlanta area. People were stranded in their cars overnight all around the megalopolitan area.

It was the third day following the snowstorm before the HMB building opened again.

It was good to have a couple days at home. To play in the snow with my son. I also worked on a project or two.

We were just launching new materials for Baptist associational strategy planning. I read through the manuals I brought home with me. I got to a part where it referred to orientation material.

I had not heard or seen anything about this material. I was still less than 12 months into my position with HMB. I called Jim Hamblen—our associate division director—at home to ask him about them.

He just laughed!

Guess who had to write these materials because I was less than a month away from needing them for one of the mega associations.

Your Experiences

What are some of your experiences with an Atlanta Snowmageddon, or one in a place where you lived?