Snow is rare enough in Georgia that a few inches of accumulation can spark wonder in school children, but the fluffy white flakes can also be a major pain for those who need to worry about commuting to work or managing a household.

Governor Brian Kemp declared a statewide State of Emergency Thursday, effective through Tuesday, January 14, in preparation for the approaching winter storm expected to impact Georgia beginning Friday.

(The Center Square) – Georgians of a certain age remember two major winter events – the blizzard of 1993 and the "Snowjam" of 2014. The blizzard is called a one-in-a-lifetime event in the state, but 2014's debacle was blamed on state officials' failure to plan.