Flash Flooding and Flooding in Georgia, September 15 to 18, 2009

The Gilmer County Emergency Management Director reported that one home sustained flood damage when Cox Creek overflowed its banks near the intersection of Cox Creek Road and Boardtown Road, just northwest of Ellijay. Four other homes were threatened by the flood waters and the residents of all five homes were evacuated during the event as a precaution. Repeated showers and thunderstorms had moved across the area during the morning hours.

The USGS stream gage on the Alcovy River near Lawrenceville reached its flood stage of 9.0 feet at 1205 pm EDT, crested at 9.70 feet at 145 pm EDT, and then fell below flood stage at 230 pm EDT. Minor flooding was reported adjacent to the river. Damage was confined to minor debris removal.

The USGS stream gage on the Alcovy River near Lawrenceville reached its flood stage of 9.0 feet at 1205 pm EDT, crested at 9.70 feet at 145 pm EDT, and then fell below flood stage at 230 pm EDT. Minor flooding was reported adjacent to the river. Damage was confined to minor debris removal.

The Cherokee County Emergency Management Director reported penny-sized hail in the Holly Springs area as well as southeast of Waleska.

The Cherokee County Emergency Management Director reported that three trees were down approximately four miles west of Canton.

The USGS stream gages on the South and North Forks of Peachtree Creek reached flood stage during the evening of the 16th from persistent heavy rain and thunderstorms. On the South Fork of the Peachtree Creek, the creek reached flood stage of 12.0 feet at 727 pm EDT, crested at 13.5 feet at 900 pm EDT, and fell below flood stage at 1245 am EDT on September 17th. On the North Fork of the Peachtree Creek, the creek reached flood stage of 12.0 feet at 802 pm EDT, crested at 13.5 feet at 930 pm EDT, then also fell below flood stage at 1245 am EDT on September 17th. Damage from this flood was minor and confined to debris removal adjacent to the creeks.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that lightning struck a home in the 4000 block of Palace Court and a business in the 100 block of Luxomni Road. Both structures suffered minor damage from the resulting fire.

Flooding along the upper portion of Peachtree Creek was observed during the evening of September 16th from persistent heavy rain and thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening hours. The lower portion of Peachtree Creek, where the USGS gage is located, did not flood during this event. Damage was confined to minor debris removal in areas adjacent to the creek.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that lightning struck a home in the 2700 block of Maple Vista Lane. The resulting fire caused minor damage to the structure.

The Morgan County 911 Center reported flash flooding as a result of Hunnicut Creek and tributaries to the Little River basin rising above flood stage. Adjacent areas to these creeks and streams were flooded. Damage was confined to minor debris removal.

The Newton County 911 Center reported flash flooding in the eastern portion of the county in association with flooding from Tanyard Branch Creek in Eastern Newton County. Water was standing on some roads in the area as well. Damage was confined to minor debris removal.

The Bibb County Emergency Management Director reported flash flooding along Savage Creek at Matthews Drive in northwest Macon. Water was flowing over the bridge at this location. Several roads in the area became flooded and a number of vehicles were stranded in high water. Some rescues were required. The flash flood caused erosion and minor structural damage to roads and bridges.

The USGS stream gage located on Big Creek at Kimball Bridge Road, near Alpharetta, reached flood stage of 7.0 feet at 430 pm EDT. The creek crested at 7.17 feet at 530 pm EDT, then fell below flood stage at 722 pm EDT. Damage was confined to minor debris removal adjacent to the creek, especially along the Alpharetta Greenway.

The USGS stream gage on Big Creek in far southwest Forsyth county, along the Fulton county line, reached flood stage of 7.0 feet at 430 pm EDT. The creek crested at 7.17 feet at 530 pm EDT, then fell below flood stage at 722 pm EDT. Damage was confined to minor debris removal adjacent to the creek.

The Bibb County Emergency Management Director reported that flooding continued across much of the county following earlier flash flooding. Several roads remained under water and closed. Additional minor damage to roads an property was observed during this time frame.

The Bibb County Emergency Management Director reported that flooding continued across much of the county following earlier flash flooding. Several roads remained under water and closed. Additional minor damage to roads and property was observed during this time frame.

The Morgan County Emergency Management Director reported flash flooding along Little Sandy Creek at Georgia Highway 83 and U.S. Highway 441, north of Madison. The Georgia Highway 83 bridge was washed out. U.S. Highway 441 was not damaged, but the road was closed for several hours as water was flowing over the road at the bridge. Flash flooding was also reported along Hunnicut Creek in southern Morgan county as well.

The Taylor County Emergency Management Director reported extensive flash flooding across western Taylor county. At least 11 dirt roads and several bridges were washed out in the area between Mauk and Howard where over eight inches of rain fell in a 6-hour period. Some of the roads washed out included Watson Road, Kelly Foster Road and Parker Road. Several creeks were well out of their banks across the region.

The Morgan County Emergency Management Director reported that considerable flooding continued across the county much of the night following earlier flash flooding. Several roads, especially in the southern part of the county, remained under water and closed, particularly U.S. Highway 441 and Georgia Highway 83. Several creeks and streams in the central and southern part of the county were out of their banks. Minor additional road damage was observed during this period.

The USGS stream gage on the Little River near Eatonton reached its flood stage of 20 feet at 1151 pm EDT. The river continued to rise thereafter and crested at 22.40 feet at 400 am EDT early the next morning. The area affected was very rural and damage was confined to minor debris removal.

The Crawford County Emergency Management Director reported considerable flash flooding across the county. Georgia Highway 128 was closed because of flooding and six secondary roads were washed out and closed because of flooding.

The Taylor County Emergency Management Director reported a secondary flash flood event in the eastern part of the county as thunderstorms developed and began to train over that portion of the county as well. Georgia Highway 96, a major thoroughfare through the area, was flooded and closed just west of the Crawford county line. Portions of Georgia Highway 128 were also flooded near the Crawford county line as well. While damage to roads and bridges in the eastern portion of the county was not as extensive as in the western portion, significant damage was still observed.

The Houston County 911 Center reported flash flooding from Turtle and Sandy Run Creeks approximately four miles southwest of Warner Robins. Several homes along Feagin Mill Road experienced flooding as a result. Water was at least a foot deep in one of the affected homes.

The USGS stream gage on the Little River along Georgia Highway 16 near Eatonton remained over the 20.0 foot flood stage much of the early morning hours from earlier flash flooding. Several other creeks and streams across the county were at or above bankfull. A few roads sustained minor damage.

The Taylor County Emergency Management reported that flooding continued for several hours after the flash flooding subsided. Several roads remained under water throughout the night. Additional road damage was observed.

The Peach County Emergency Management Director reported that eight roads were closed from flooding across the county. Some of the roads closed included Rolling Hills Road, Woolfolk Road, Lilly Road, and the Georgia Highway 49 bypass. Some of the roads could be closed for days to weeks as repairs are made. This flooding was a result of repeated heavy rainfall for several hours during the late evening of the 17th and the early morning hours of the 18th. The flooding in Peach county did not reach flash flood criteria, thus damage to roads was minimal.

The Taylor County Emergency Management Director reported that general flooding continued across eastern Taylor county for several hours after the flash flooding of the late evening hours of the 17th had subsided. Several roads, including Georgia Highway 96, remained under water for several hours. Additional damage was minimal compared to earlier flash flood-related damage.

The Crawford County Emergency Management Director reported that general flooding continued for several hours after flash flooding had subsided. Several roads remained under water throughout the night and early morning hours. Additional minor damage was observed from the flooding.