By Savannah Brock

As Forrest Gump said, “One day it started raining, and it didn’t quit for four months.” 

Hopefully Georgia will not have constant rain for four months, however it feels like it has. According to the National Weather Service the last significant flood Georgia had was in Sept. 2009 effecting Metro Atlanta and Northwest Georgia. This flood caused 10 fatalities and $300 million in damages.

Thankfully 2009 was the lat major flood scare in Georgia, But have their been others? Here they are:

• 1886: March 30-April 6 in Rome Georgia, Rainfall of 6-12 inches occurred over northwest Georgia in a 3-day period with fatalities unknown. According to NWS damages caused were up to tens of thousands of dollars.
• 1919: Dec. 8-12 in Columbus, Georgia,  Rainfall amounts of 6 to 12 inches over a 3-day period primarily oriented over the Chattahoochee River basin from Columbus to Norcross caused extensive flooding up to 3 miles from the river channel. There were 3 fatalities with damages exceeding $1,000,000.00.
• 1938: April 7 in Whitestone, Georgia, This extreme flash flood killed 13 people in Whitestone when a general store near the Talona Creek was washed off its foundation. Damages caused were up to tens of thousands of dollars. If you click on the NWS site, you can read a poem by Danny Attaway on the Whitestone Flood.
• 1994: July throughout both Alabama and Georgia, This flood had the most fatalities of the five coming in a 33 people (31 in Georgia and 2 in Alabama). The damages caused racked up to $750 Million in Georgia, Alabama and Florida.

Will we see that happen again this season? The NWS states that on this day in 2009, the remnants of Hurricane Ida came across north Georgia bringing 3 to 5 inches of rain. According to Weather Underground today Athens will be expected to get 0.74 inches of rainfall.

 

In case flooding is in or near your area, the American Red Cross has facts that might just save your life:

• Water & Food—at least a 3-day supply; one gallon per person per day along with a supply of non-perishable, easy-to-prepare food
• Flashlight & Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
• First Aid kit
• Medications (7-day supply) and medical items (hearing aids with extra batteries, glasses, contact lenses, syringes, cane)
• Multi-purpose tool
• Sanitation and personal hygiene items
• Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, deed/lease to home, birth certificates, insurance policies)
• Cell phone with chargers
• Extra cash
• Emergency blanket
• Map(s) of the area
• Tools/supplies for securing your home
• Extra set of car keys and house keys
• Extra clothing, hat and sturdy shoes including rain gear

A flood warning has extended into Thursday afternoon for the Oconee River near Penfield.