Georgia Gov . Nathan Deal has named a 32-member `` severe weather warning and preparedness task force '' that will recommend how the state can better respond to storms like the one that paralyzed Atlanta last week . Deal came under fire for his slow reaction to the storm that dropped 2.6 inches of snow on the Atlanta area that seemed to catch authorities off guard . The exodus of drivers from Atlanta clogged the highways , stranding thousands of students in schools and forcing numerous commuters to spend extra hours inside their cars on icy roads . The governor apologized to the public and promised to handle things differently next time . `` I 'm the governor , the buck stops with me , '' he said . The task force , composed of four local television meteorologists , other experts and school and state agency leaders , will meet in public and report to the governor 60 days after its first meeting , which has yet to be scheduled . State agency heads are scheduled to deliver an internal report to Deal in 10 days , the governor 's office said . Other changes will happen right away . `` Effective immediately , a storm warning will trigger a message to cell phones in targeted areas , as in the Amber Alert system , and advise against road travel , '' Deal said Monday . `` We will go one step further with school superintendents by emailing them weather condition updates , so that they have the most up-to-date information when determining whether to close schools . '' The state also will overhaul its `` state emergency app , '' which will now include information such as alternative traffic routes and shelter locations , he said . On January 28 , as the storm approached , people working in Atlanta started driving home to the suburbs . A massive traffic jam gripped the city , leading to commutes of more than 20 hours for countless motorists . More than 2,000 cars were abandoned on roadsides . Some employees spent the night at their workplaces , and commuters gave up trying to get home and slept in emergency shelters or even on the floors of roadside businesses . Students who were n't picked up by buses or their parents slept in their schools . Reaction was swift . The public lashed out at Deal and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed for not acting quickly enough . Journalists sharply questioned Deal and Reed . `` Saturday Night Live '' and `` The Daily Show With Jon Stewart '' mocked Georgia and Atlanta . Reed , who works closely with Deal , also said he 'll respond more aggressively when bad weather strikes . `` We 're going to be as prepared as we can to be ready for the next storm , '' Deal told reporters . Timeline : 2 inches of chaos in Atlanta .
Georgia Gov . Nathan Deal names `` severe weather warning and preparedness task force '' Georgia is making immediate changes in technology for storm response . The public was infuriated by the government 's slow response . Comment: