AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Georgia has been busy preparing for what state leaders warn could be the most significant ice storm in more than a decade.

It’s prompted a statewide state of emergency and an aggressive push to prepare before conditions deteriorate.

Gov. Brian Kemp declared the emergency on Thursday, allowing state agencies to speed coordination and deploy resources ahead of the storm, which forecasters say could bring dangerous ice, widespread power outages and impassable roads.

Transportation crews across the state have been working around the clock, pretreating roads with brine in what the Georgia Department of Transportation calls one of its largest winter weather efforts in years.

“We have about 45,000 lane miles statewide,” said Natalie Dale, a spokesperson for GDOT. “To put this into perspective, we’re treating 18,000 for this storm system — all of your priority state routes.”

Those routes include major interstates such as I-75, I-85, I-20 and the metro Atlanta perimeter. Officials stress that pretreatment only helps before ice forms and offers little protection once freezing conditions take hold.

“Ice is a no-go scenario. It is not two feet of snow that we can plow. You cannot plow ice. You cannot drive on ice,” Dale said.

“We’re not clearing the roads for people to be on them,” Dale said. “We’re clearing the roads to recover them quickly for emergency personnel.”

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Brining has been a big emphasis since the ice storm of 2014, which left many people stranded on interstates, where they abandoned their cars. Leaders decided not to let it happen again.

More than 1,900 GDOT workers will pre-treat some 50,000 miles of state and interstate roadways. They’ll use an estimated 76,310 tons of salt and around 2 million gallons of brine.

After that unforgettable snowstorm in 2014 — aptly nicknamed “Snowmageddon” — the transportation department and state government learned a lot.

They weren’t using brine prior to that and were hardly pretreating roads ahead of winter storms.

“When your state becomes a ‘Saturday Night Live’ skit following a storm situation, everyone has to come to the table to make sure that that does not happen again,” Dale said.

South Carolina preparations

The South Carolina Department of Transportation is treating roads as winter weather approaches the state this weekend.

Earlier this week, trucks were dropping loads of salt on busy roadways as ice accumulation could reach up to half an inch in some areas of the state.

Although driving is not advised, pre-treating with salt is crucial in getting ahead of the dangerous conditions.

The agency is also staffing up for debris management this weekend due to fallen limbs and expected power outages.

Tony Magwood with SCDOT said the ice storm brings a different preparation strategy than a snow event.

“An ice event is very much different from a snow event. While we prepare for both, an ice event represents more,” Magwood said.

As the weather event starts, Magwood said crews will begin using sand in combination with brine.

The agency said its top priority is keeping roads and bridges open and accessible, especially for first responders and other essential travel needs.

The South Carolina Department of Transportation had nearly 4,000 employees positioned across the state.

The agency said it has 60,000 tons of salt and 1,200 pieces of equipment staged strategically across the state, ready to be deployed where it’s needed most.

Driving in icy weather

Highway crews aren’t the only ones who need to be prepared this weekend. If − against all advice − you have to travel in the icy weather, officials say there are some things to keep in mind.

“It doesn’t hurt to pack an emergency kit. The roads could become really, really dangerous. And if they are, there’s a chance you could get stranded. If you’re stranded, you want to have emergency supplies in your car. I think non-perishable food, water, things that can keep you warm like blankets, extra clothing, flashlight to make yourself visible,” said Will Volk, GDOT District 2 communications officer.

Public safety officials in Aiken County said Thursday that those who must travel in icy roads should try to take the main thoroughfares and stay off secondary streets. And practice patience, they said.

Other tips:

• Be careful walking and especially driving on ice, including potential black ice.
• If it is absolutely necessary to travel during a winter storm, slow down, increase your following distance, and stay alert.
• In case of a minor collision without injuries, move your vehicle off the roadway and call law enforcement.
• Ensure family or friends know your traveling plans, specifically where you’re going and the approximate time of arrival.
• Have a full tank of gas.
• Wear your seat belt.
• Use your blinkers and drive safely.
• Always use your judgment behind the wheel.
• Bring hats, gloves, a balaclava, earmuffs and a scarf to protect your face from the bitter cold.
• Tires should be inspected to ensure they are properly inflated and have sufficient tread depth.
• Make sure your car battery is charged. Check with your local mechanic or visit AAA to make sure your car has a good battery.
• Don’t use cruise control in precipitation and freezing temperatures.
• Keep your phone charged and keep a portable charger with you.
• Equip your vehicle with a snow shovel, scraper, and some warm clothing and blankets.
• Check washer fluid and anti-freeze to ensure they are at adequate levels.
• Make sure to get some bags of salt if it gets icy on the sidewalks and roads.
• Drive slowly and smoothly. Avoid sudden hard acceleration, braking, or steering. With antilock brakes, use steady pressure – don’t pump. Pumping disables the antilock brakes and makes a skid more likely.
• Watch for icy surfaces on bridges and intersections, even if the rest of the road seems to be in good condition.
• If you get stuck in snow or ice, straighten the wheel, and accelerate slowly. Add sand, traction mats, or cat litter under the drive wheels to help avoid spinning the tires.
• If you’re stalled, remain in your vehicle where rescuers are most likely to find you. Do not set out on foot unless you can see a building close by where you know you can take shelter.
• Don’t idle for a long time with the windows up or in an enclosed space.
• If your tires lose traction and you begin to skid, continue to look, and steer in the direction you want to go. If the drive wheels start to spin or slide while going up a hill, ease off the accelerator slightly and then gently resume speed.
• Keep your hazard lights on if you’re stuck on the side of the road.

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