(Cleveland)- Thirty years ago on this date the blizzard of the century hit north Georgia.
The National Weather Services says in 1993, record amounts of snow fell across north Georgia. Wind gusts near 65 mph across extreme north Georgia produced blizzard conditions as visibilities dropped to zero in many areas. Total snowfall by late evening averaged 18 to 24 inches from Rome to Clayton with near 30 inches from Fannin to Union Counties.
Snow drifts up to 10 feet high were reported. In Murray, Whitfield, and Gordon Counties in northwest Georgia, damage estimates to businesses and homes were over $300 million.
Over 120 carpet businesses in northwest Georgia were destroyed or damaged from high wind or the weight of heavy snow. Over 90 chicken houses were destroyed in north Georgia killing at least 1.3 million chickens. Thousands of trees were uprooted with damage costs of wood products and cleanup estimated at $5 to $10 million.
Travel across extreme north Georgia, especially along the I-75 corridor, was brought to a standstill for up to a week following the blizzard conditions.
I brung my first born my daughter Taylor home from the hospital the day before this storm hit
I was so glad to because I would have been stuck somewhere in labor without help being able to get to me or stuck at the hospital for God knows how long before I could get home