The Georgia Department of Transportation is taking advantage of some sunny, fall days to better respond as needed to frigid, snowy winter days. Crews are working around the state, including at an old rest area/welcome center off Interstate 985 between Flowery Branch and Oakwood, to set up “staging areas” for road-clearing efforts. The DOT is “looking at what happened last year and revamping its plans,” said Teri Pope, DOT district spokeswoman, referring to a series of winter storms that battered Georgia.