The Georgia Department of Public Health’s Northwest Health District office in Rome and health departments across 11 Northwest Georgia counties will be closed Monday, January 26, due to anticipated hazardous weather.
Counties included in the closure are Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Floyd, Gordon, Haralson, Paulding, Polk, and Walker. Residents needing services are encouraged to plan ahead and monitor official updates for reopening information once conditions improve.
Winter is settling in with bitter cold and frigid wind chills—enough to make anyone shiver just thinking about it. Forecasters expect a surge of Arctic air to spread across a large part of the country, from the Midwest to the Northeast, and the cold could linger into next month. With temperatures and wind chills dropping, the risk of frostbite and hypothermia rises, so safety experts say it’s important to take simple precautions now.
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Saturday, January 24, 2026:
While Chattooga County and all of Northwest Georgia remain under an Ice Storm Warning, the National Weather Service forecast for our area is calling for only a slight chance of freezing rain before 10 AM this morning. Early temperatures were running marginal for widespread icing, with LaFayette and Mentone hovering just below freezing at 31 degrees, while Gaylesville, Alabama and Rome were closer to 40. Summerville was sitting at 35 degrees. Those readings are a bit warm for freezing rain in many spots, but sleet could still fall anywhere across the area, especially in heavier bursts of precipitation.
As a winter storm moves into Northwest Georgia, emergency management and local agencies across Chattooga County are urging residents to stay informed, prepare now, and avoid travel if icing develops.
With icing possible in the region, local insurance agent Butch Eleam is reminding residents that many insurance companies not only allow, but encourage homeowners to take reasonable steps to prevent additional damage after a storm.
Cold weather can be dangerous for pets, with real risks of hypothermia and frostbite—especially for short-haired, small, elderly, or sick animals. The safest plan is simple: keep pets indoors as much as possible, limit time outside, and take a few extra precautions when they do go out.
As a severe winter storm threatens parts of Georgia with the potential for destructive ice and snow, both Georgia Power and North Georgia EMC (NGEMC) have announced temporary suspensions of service disconnections to help keep customers safe during the event.
Habitat for Humanity – Coosa Valley is calling on local landowners, developers, and community partners to help meet the growing need for affordable housing by donating buildable land for future Habitat homes. Habitat Coosa Valley serves residents across Floyd, Chattooga, and Polk Counties in Northwest Georgia.
