Atlanta still recovering from storm

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal says all Atlanta-area schoolchildren who were stranded after a storm snarled traffic have been safely returned to their parents.

Deal said Wednesday that the National Guard and Georgia State Patrol helped local school districts reunite students with their families.

The Atlanta area was coated with about 2 inches of snow Tuesday afternoon. The snowfall and traffic congestion left many roads and interstates in gridlock.

Deal says at least 95 buses became stuck Tuesday night and authorities used Humvees to deliver food and water to stranded children.

School districts throughout the state have announced that they'll remain closed on Thursday.

State police say troopers responded to more than 1,400 crashes between Tuesday morning and Wednesday evening in Atlanta and other parts of Georgia. The rash of mishaps was just one of the major problems created by horrendous travel conditions created by Tuesday's snow storm in Atlanta and elsewhere in Georgia.

Mayor Kasim Reed says it was a mistake not to stagger the closure of schools, government and businesses to avoid massive gridlock and clogged roadways.