Flash Flood — Coffee, Alabama

1998-03-08 · near Elba, Coffee, Alabama

Event narrative

A vigorous Gulf storm dumped up to 14 inches of rain across the northern half of Coffee County. The earthen levee on the Beaver Dam Creek breached. A six foot wall of water rushed into the city of Elba. Two thousand residents were forced to evacuate. Nearly 400 homes and businesses sustained flood damage. Approximately 52 county roads were washed out or flooded. The Pea River at Elba crested near 39.3 feet on March 9. Four people were killed when their vehicles were swept away by floodwaters. Coffee County was declared a federal disaster area.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5632268. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.