Flooding in Georgia, March 8 to 21, 1998

An intense Gulf storm produced 5 to 12 inches of rain across much of southwest Georgia on March 7-9 which caused widespread flooding. Baker, Ben Hill, Cook, Colquitt, Dougherty, Lee, Miller, Mitchell, Terrell, Decatur, Early, Brooks, Colquitt, Clay, Seminole, Calhoun, Thomas, and Worth counties were declared federal disaster areas. In Ben Hill County, floodwaters claimed the life of a Irwinville man whose vehicle overturned. In Baker County, several homes and businesses were flooded in Newton. 100 residents within the Newton city limits were evacuated. Numerous county and secondary roads were closed. Flooding along the Itchuaway-Nochaway Creek forced additional evacuations at Milford. The Flint River crested at Newton near 36.4 feet on March 12. In Brooks County, the Little River overflowed its banks which closed the Antioch Road bridge. Several county and secondary roads were closed. In Calhoun and Clay counties, several schools were closed due to dangerous road conditions. In Colquitt County, 25 residents were evacuated. Hardest hit areas were along Indian Creek, Indian Lake, and Bear Creek. 75 county and secondary roads were closed. The Camilla Road bridge was closed to high water in Moultrie. Several Moultrie Housing Authority residents were displaced and a few streets in Norman Park were flooded. In Cook County, several county and secondary roads were washed out. In Decatur County, approximately 185 families evacuated their homes in the Flint River Heights and Riverdale subdivisions of Bainbridge. 20 county roads and 60 homes were damaged. Spring Creek overflowed its banks closing US Highway 84 at Brinson. The Elberta Crate Company lumber yard sustained flood damage. Floodwaters submerged much of West Bainbridge as well as several factories, businesses, and homes. The Flint River crested near 34.7 feet at Bainbridge on March 13. In Dougherty County, nearly 11,000 residents were evacuated in Albany. Several city and county roads were flooded. An estimated 500 homes were damaged. Many city schools were closed including Albany College. Waters overflowed the right bank levee into a downstream housing development. The Flint River creested at 36.9 feet (third highest) on March 11. In Early County, Long Branch Creek flooded 30 homes at Damascus. Several homes in Saffold and Jakin were flooded. One man was injured whe he drove his vehicle through a barricade at Cedar Springs. Numerous county and secondary roads were closed. In Lee County, portions of US Highway 19 were closed to floodwaters. The Muckalee Creek crested near 17.1 feet at Leesburg on March 9. A few homes sustained minor flooding in the North Hampton subdivision (7 miles downstream from the river gage). In Lowndes County, Skipper Bridge, Little River, and Franklinville Roads flooded. Some houses along the Little River sustained minor flood damage. Portions of Valdosta flooded, especially along the right bank of the Withlacoochee River which crested at 22.5 feet on March 11. In Miller County, Spring Creek and some streams overflowed their banks. Numerous county and dirt roads were impassable. 10,000 gallons of raw sewage spilled into south Colquitt and some city streets were flooded. In Mitchell County, high waters closed numerous roads as county creeks and streams overflowed their banks. In Seminole County, several secondary and state roads were closed along Spring Creek and Fishpond Drain. In Terrell County, 19 county roads and State Highway 55 were impassable. Numerous creeks and tributaries overran their banks. Homes along the lower Kinchafoonee Road and creek were damaged as well as residences on Century Road in Dawson. The Kinchafoonee Creek at Dawson crested near 21.7 feet on March 10. In Thomas County, homes along the Ochlockonee River were evacuated as levels exceeded 18 feet and road access was impossible. Houses and trailers had water up to the doorsteps in the Lake Riverside and Stewart Avenue areas. The Ochlockonee River crested at Thomasville near 22 feet on March 10. In Worth County, 150 county and secondary roads were washed out.