Flood — South Fulton, Georgia

2005-07-11 to 2005-07-12 · South Fulton, Georgia

Wider weather episode

Heavy rain, associated with the remnants of Hurricane Dennis (moving north-northwest through western Alabama and eastern Mississippi), affected nearly all of north and central Georgia from the afternoon of Sunday July 10th through the morning hours of Monday July 11th. Initially, the rain was widespread light to moderate. Rainfall amounts between 4 pm and 8 pm averaged one to two inches across most of the area. After 8 pm on the 10th, and especially after midnight on the 11th, the rain became increasingly organized in an approximately 50-mile wide south-to-north oriented tropical feeder band that extended from near Americus on the southern end to near Chatsworth on the northern end. Repeated showers with torrential rainfall tracked over the same areas for hours and hours between 8 pm EDT on the 10th and 10 am EDT on the 11th. Areas under the feeder band experienced incredible rainfall amounts. Average rainfall amounts within the feeder band were six to eight inches for the 12-hour period, but some 10-12 inch rainfall amounts were observed across much of Fayette, eastern Coweta, western Fulton, eastern Douglas, and southern Cobb counties. The heavy rain resulted in widespread flooding, river flooding, and some flash flooding. Many rivers and creeks across the area rose above flood stage, and in several cases to record or near record flood stages observed only during previous tropical storm/hurricane events, namely Tropical Storm Alberto in July 1994 and Hurricanes Ivan and Jeanne in September 2004. Here are some of the individual county reports within the area that reported flooding. Flash flooding events are documented individually elsewhere within this Storm Data report.Here are some of the most significant creek and river flood reports:Etowah River at Cartersville (Bartow County): Crested at 22.0 feet at 700 pm EDT on July 11th. Flood stage is 18.0 feet.Ocmulgee River at Macon (Bibb County): Crested at 23.0 feet at 130 pm EDT on July 13th. Flood stage is 18.0 feet. River was above flood stage for five days. Chattahoochee River at Whitesburg (Carroll County): Crested at 24.5 feet at 115 pm EDT on July 12th. Flood stage is 15.0 feet.Noonday Creek (Cherokee County): Crested at 16.3 feet at 200 pm EDT on July 11th. Previous record was 13.8 feet on September 16, 2004.Flint River near Lovejoy (Clayton County): Crested at 18.9 feet at 11 pm July 11th. Flood stage is 12.0 feet. Second highest crest recorded. Record crest is 23.6 feet observed on July 5th, 1994.Nickajack Creek (Cobb County): Crested at 16.6 feet at noon EDT on July 11th. Previous record was 13.7 feet on May 16, 2003.Noses Creek (Cobb County): Crested at 19.1 feet at 430 pm EDT on July 11th. Previous record was 12.3 feet on September 17, 2004.Sope Creek (Cobb County): Crested at 15.2 feet at 830 am EDT on July 11th. Flood stage is 12.0 feet.Line Creek near Senoia (Coweta County): Crested at 16.8 feet at 9 pm EDT July 11th. Flood stage is 9.0 feet. Second highest crest recorded. Record crest is 20.1 feet observed on July 5, 1994.Sweetwater Creek (Douglas County): Crested at 21.8 feet at noon EDT on July 12th. Flood stage is 10.0 feet. Previous record was 20.0 feet recorded only July 7, 1916.Chattahoochee River at Vinings (Fulton County): Crested at 17.9 feet on July 11th at 230 pm EDT. Flood stage is 14.0 feet.Peachtree Creek (Fulton County): Crested at 19.1 feet at 600 am EDT on July 11th. Flood stage is 17.0 feet.Proctor Creek (Fulton County): Crested at 12.3 feet at 430 am EDT on July 11th. Flood stage is 11.0 feet.Big Creek at Alpharetta (Fulton County): Crested at 9.4 feet at 745 pm EDT on July 11th. Flood stage is 7.0 feet.Coosawattee River at Redbud (Gordon County): Crested at 27.0 feet at 900 am EDT on July 12th. Flood stage is 25.0 feet.Suwanee Creek (Gwinnett County): Crested at 10.0 feet at 430 pm EDT on July 11th. Flood stage is 8.0 feet.Flint River at Culloden (Monroe County): Crested at 32.9 feet at 1000 pm on July 11th. Flood stage is 18.0 feet. River was above flood stage for five days.Ocmulgee River at Hawkinsville (Pulaski County): Crested at 24.6 feet on July 16th at 730 am EDT. Flood stage is 20.0 feet. River was above flood stage for five days.Individual county reports:Bartow: After flash flooding subsided, several roads and low-lying areas remained under water for several days. This was particularly true along Green Acre Lane and Grassdale Road near Cass High School. Water levels at the county's water pollution plant were the highest observed since 1979.Bibb: The Riverwalk and Heritage Greenway trail were flooded and closed during the period. In addition, several yards of homes were flooded during the period of heaviest rain.Carroll: Several basements of homes throughout the county were flooded, but none were rendered inhabitable. In addition, Lake Buckhorn overflowed its banks, surrounding several homes with water.Cherokee: Flooding of several roads and many basements of homes across the county, especially western areas. Estimated Damage: $200,000Cobb: Once flash flooding subsided, it took several days for flooding to subside. Basements of many homes in the county were flooded. Estimated Damage: $250,000Coweta: Several areas in the eastern portion of the county reported minor low-land flooding. However, no significant road flooding or home flooding was reported.DeKalb: Flooding was reported throughout the county. Water was as much as three feet deep in places. However, none of the flooding appears to have met flash flood criteria.Dooly: Several roads were flooded during the night as four to six inches of rain had fallen across much of the county. While no significant damage was reported, several homes were threatened by flood waters.Fayette: Excessive rainfall of 10 to 12 inches across much of the county resulted in flooding of the basements of many homes throughout the county. Estimated Damage: $100,000Fulton: Portions of Cascade Road near Interstate-285 were flooded and impassable for several hours during the night. In addition, a nearby golf course was also submerged by flood waters during the event.Gordon: Rainfall of three to five inches was recorded across the eastern portions of the county. Several roads were flooded and some were washed out. Damage was generally minor, but in some cases lasted for several days. Several homes had water into their crawl spaces or basements.Haralson: Several roads were flooded, but conditions did not meet flash flood criteria. Three to five inches of rain was common across most of the county.Henry: Heavy rain resulted in a 53,000 gallon wastewater spill at a sewage treatment plant in Stockbridge.Marion: A wooden dam on Brown Pond was breached from the heavy rainfall of five to seven inches across much of the county. However, no flash flooding was reported as a result as the water did not completely break through. Estimated Damage: $5,000Monroe: Twenty-five to 30 people were trapped in their homes on Hollis Road by flood waters from the Flint River. Several vehicles were flooded, but the homes sustained only minor damage as most of the water remained in the yards of the homes. For some period, home owners could only leave their homes by row boat. Estimated Damage: $15,000Pulaski: Flooding near the Ocmulgee River caused several residents of Hawkinsville to be stranded in their homes as roads in the area were flooded. However, no damage was reported to the homes.Sumter: Several low lying areas were flooded, particularly along and adjacent to Muckalee Creek. A portion of U.S. Highway 19 was flooded and WDEC Radio on Georgia Highway 30 was also surrounded by flood waters. A woman and her four children were trapped in their mobile home by flood waters. In addition, extensive flooding was also reported along the Flint River. Several homes in the area had water up to one foot deep. Estimated Damage: $250,000Upson: Numerous roads in the county flooded and under water for some time. Some flooding of basements of homes. Estimated Damage: $50,000

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5467599. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.