Ice Storm Impacts Linger for Thousands in Northeast Georgia

Crews work around the clock to restore power, but bitter cold temperatures pose challenges.

Jan. 27, 2026 at 12:39pm

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While the ice storm has moved out of Georgia, thousands of residents in far northeast Georgia are still dealing with lingering impacts. The ice storm caused widespread power outages and downed trees across the state, including metro Atlanta. Crews have been working around the clock on recovery efforts, but bitter cold temperatures are making it a challenge in some counties. Some of the hardest-hit areas were in far north Georgia where the ice storm knocked out service to more than 100,000 customers.

Why it matters

The lingering impacts of the ice storm in northeast Georgia highlight the challenges of recovering from severe winter weather events, especially when bitter cold temperatures persist. Power outages and dangerous road conditions can pose significant risks to residents, and the recovery efforts require extensive coordination and resources.

The details

On Tuesday morning, more than 3,000 people in Rabun County remained without power. Georgia Power said northeast Georgia received extensive damage from ice and falling trees, making access to power lines challenging. With bitter cold temperatures overnight Monday into Tuesday morning, refreezing roads were another concern.

  • The ice storm moved out of Georgia on Tuesday.
  • On Tuesday morning, more than 3,000 people in Rabun County remained without power.

The players

Josh Lamb

The director of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency.

Georgia Power

The utility company that serves northeast Georgia, which experienced extensive damage from the ice storm.

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What they’re saying

“You never know exactly how a storm is going to work out so you've got to prepare for the worst where the best can happen. I think that's what we've done here.”

— Josh Lamb, Director of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (atlantanewsfirst.com)

“If you don't have to travel don't. If you do, use extreme caution, slow down, and especially watch for those bridges and overpasses. They could still be frozen.”

— Josh Lamb, Director of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (atlantanewsfirst.com)

What’s next

Georgia Power and local emergency management agencies will continue to work on restoring power and clearing roads in the hardest-hit areas of northeast Georgia in the coming days.

The takeaway

The lingering impacts of the ice storm in northeast Georgia underscore the importance of preparedness and coordination in responding to severe winter weather events. As climate change increases the frequency and intensity of these storms, communities will need to invest in resilient infrastructure and emergency response capabilities to protect residents and minimize disruptions.