WAYCROSS, Ga. – Locals continue to feel the impacts of a winter storm that moved through Southeast Georgia and North Florida on Tuesday night into Wednesday morning as they grapple with unsafe driving conditions, road closures and power outages.
RELATED: Some Southeast Georgia school districts will remain closed Thursday after winter storm
Among those impacted was a business in Waycross, which, according to employees, was significantly affected when its roof collapsed early Wednesday morning during the downpour of snow.
News4JAX learned that the business, Taylor Pools, located at 1015 Knight Ave., had been around for years but moved into the building about nine months ago.
Employees confirmed to News4JAX that the roof collapsed around 4 a.m. and that the owners had contacted law enforcement.
The owner told us he arrived at the business after the alarm went off around 3:45 a.m. He said he was standing in the parking lot when the business collapsed before his eyes.
No one was inside at the time.
Images of the collapse show deep cracks beginning at the top of the building, which move down for what appears to be a few feet.
Other images show the exterior of the building seemingly crushed by the snow as parts of the roof in the middle of the building appear to be touching the ground and the majority of its doors are completely caved in.
The family believes the roof collapsed from a combination of heavy snow and ice accumulation. When you add the winds from the storm, they say the roof didn’t stand a chance.
Johnny B. Johnson is a Waycross native and worked in the building for a few years when it was a furniture store.
“Probably over the years, construction-wise that’s what probably caused the fall in, tin tops, stuff like that. 400 to 500 pounds of snow falling down, it probably wasn’t used to that,” Johnson said. “This area we are just used to rain.”
In Ware County, it was reported that snow had come to an end across the area around 8:30 a.m., but with snow and ice lingering on the roads, driving conditions remained dangerous.
Temperatures are forecast to remain below freezing for some time so the snow and ice are expected to persist, particularly on less-traveled roadways.
Power outages were also reported across Southeast Georgia.
The Waycross Police Department Courtroom is open to anyone needing shelter from the cold. The city auditorium will serve as a backup once the courtroom reaches capacity.
