Flooding in Florida, March 10 to 30, 1998

Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Walton, and Jackson counties were declared federal disaster areas. Nearly 6 inches of rain from March 8-9 caused urban/small stream flooding in Bayou George and much of the north and northwest Bay County. In Calhoun County, 28 county roads and State Road 69 were closed to flooding. Approximately 400 homes and businesses sustained flood damage (57 in Blountstown). The Chipola River at Altha crested near 31.2 feet on March 14. The Apalachicola River at Blountstown crested near 27.2 feet (third highest) on March 13. In Dixie County, rising waters along the Suwannee River forced the evacuation of 200 residents. Numerous county and secondary roads were flooded. In Franklin County, rising waters along the Apalachicola River flooded 40 to 50 homes near Fort Gadsden and Bay City. In Gadsden County, floodwaters closed State Road 12 near Concord. In Gulf County, nearly 600 homes sustained flood damage and more than 60 county and secondary roads were closed where water was four feet deep in places. Howard Creek (pop. 400) experienced the worst flooding. More than 2000 people were evacuated. In Holmes County, flooding along the Choctawhatchee River forced evacuations in Westville, New Hope, and Cerro Gordo. Numerous county and secondary roads were closed. In Walton County, the Choctawhatchee and Shoal rivers overflowed their banks which closed 37 roads and damaged 200 homes at Red Bay and Steel Field. In Jackson County, 75 to 100 families fled floodwaters as the Chipola River overflowed its banks. An estimated 140 residences were damaged and 40 roads were closed. The worst flooding was along State Highway 2 near Campbellton. The Chipola River at Marianna crested near 24.1 feet on March 11. In Lafayette County, the Suwannee River crested near 33.9 feet at Branforfd and 14.9 feet at Wilcox on March 9. Floodwaters engulfed High Smith Park and portions of Dowling Park as well as railroad tracks and a municipal park in Branford. In Leon County, Fairbanks Ferry Road (CR 12) as well as 11 other roads become flooded. Minor flooding is observed along Munson Slough. The Ochlockonee River crested near 21.6 feet at Bloxham on March 12. In Liberty County, minor flooding is observed along the Apalachicola River from Bristol to Lewis. In Madison County, water covered some unpaved roads where the Withlacoochee and Suwannee rivers merge. The Withlacoochee River crested near 82 feet at Pinetta on March 15. The Suwannee River crested near 61.7 feet at Ellaville on March 18. Portions of the Suwannee River State Park were closed to high water. In Taylor County, lowland flooding was observed in Perry where rainfall where 3 to 5 inches of rain fell within a 48-hour period. In Wakulla County, flooding of a few roads and residences in Sopchoppy where the river crested on March 11. The St. Marks River crested near 8.7 feet at Newport. Portions of Natural Bridge Road and lowlands were flooded. In Jefferson County, widespread lowland flooding occurred as the Aucilla River crested between 12.5 and 13 feet at Lamont. In Washington County, approximately 50 to 60 homes and businesses were damaged in Caryville and Ebro. Numerous county and secondary roads were closed. The Choctawhatchee River crested near 19.7 feet at Caryville on March 12.