Flash Flood — Fulton, Georgia

2002-09-21 · near Atlanta, Fulton, Georgia

Event narrative

The Fulton County Emergency Management Director reported that very heavy rain from a thunderstorm, moving southwest through the Atlanta metropolitan area, resulted in extensive flooding of homes and related property in the southwest Atlanta, East Point, and College Park areas. Rainfall in excess of 3 inches occurred in one hour or less throughout this area. The flooding was largely caused by clogged up drainage systems, trash, and other debris which collected along a fence which fell down as water pooled against it. Several homes were flooded as the result of this collapsed fence which acted much like a collapsed dam and a wall-of-water rushing downstream. Approximately 500 homes were flooded and damaged, with home damage apportioned as $956,000 in Atlanta, $134,435 in College Park, and $130,000 in East Point. Thirty-seven of these homes were declared uninhabitable by the county inspector as water rose to more than 18 inches deep in the homes and above electrical outlets, rendering them unsafe to inhabit. Water rose up to eight feet deep in one home and 4-foot deep water was common. Up to 20 residents had to be rescued by boat. More than 75% of these homes sustained major damage, deemed as in excess of $3500 damage, with the remaining 25% sustaining minor damage, deemed as in excess of $2300 but less than $3500 in damage. In addition to the damaged homes, at least a dozen cars were inundated and ruined in the flash flood and in excess of $90,000 of city and county overtime fees were required for clean up and repair. The flash flooding also resulted in numerous stranded vehicles on Interstate-75 and Interstate-20 near downtown as well as other roads in the immediate areas surrounding downtown Atlanta. Illustrating the extent of the very heavy rainfall was a rise on Peachtree Creek on the north side of Atlanta from 3 feet to in excess of 17 feet in just a couple of hours. The Governor of Georgia declared the area as a disaster area and was able to provide $1.2 million dollars of assistance to the residents affected.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5316273. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.