Hurricane (Typhoon) — Gulf, Florida

1998-09-28 to 1998-09-30 · Gulf, Florida

Wider weather episode

Hurricane Georges, a Category 2 storm, made landfall near Biloxi, MS early Monday, September 28, 1998. A peak wind gust of 52 knots was measured at the Gulf of Mexico data buoy 85 nautical miles south of Panama City. Georges produced storm surges of 6 to 12 feet along the Florida Panhandle coast and 3 to 5 feet along the Big Bend coast. Torrential rainfall amounts of 12 to 24 inches were common over Southeast Alabama and the Florida Panhandle with 5 to 10 inches over Southwest Georgia and the Big Bend. These rains swelled area rivers, creeks, and streams well above flood stage. Eight people were injured as numerous tornadoes were spawned by the remnants of Tropical Depression Georges across Southeast Alabama, Southwest Georgia, and Northwest Florida. Georges pushed 1998 agricultural losses in Georgia over $800 million. Beach erosion along the Panhandle coast was moderate to severe. Bay County experienced its worst beach erosion since Hurricane Eloise in 1975. Liberty, Calhoun, Bay, Holmes, Washington, Gadsden, Walton, Gulf, Franklin, Jackson, Wakulla, Coffee, and Geneva counties were declared federal disaster areas.As a result of the runoff from Georges' torrential rains, the following area rivers were affected: Apalachicola at Blountstown, FL (FS 15 ft), crest 18.9 ft (10/2/98)Aucilla at Lamont, FL (FS 9 ft), crest 13.9 ft (10/3/98)Chipola at Altha, FL (FS 22 ft), crest 22.9 ft (10/2/98)Choctawhatchee at Newton, AL (FS 19 ft), crest 21.6 ft (10/1/98)Choctawhatchee at Geneva, AL (FS 23 ft), crest 32 ft (10/1/98)Choctawhatchee at Caryville, FL (FS 12 ft), crest 17.7 ft (10/2/98)Ochlockonee at Thomasville, GA (FS 15 ft), crest 18.6 ft (10/2/98)Ochlockonee at Havana, FL (FS 25 ft), crest 28.8 ft (10/3/98)Ochlockonee at Bloxham, FL (FS 22 ft), crest 22.0 ft (10/2/98)Pea at Elba, AL (FS 30 ft), crest 33.9 ft (9/30/98)St. Marks at Newport, FL (FS 7 ft), crest 9.5 ft (10/3/98)Withlacoochee at Valdosta, GA (FS 13 ft), crest 15.2 ft (10/2/98)Large battering waves undermined piers and walkways along Front Beach Rd in Panama City Beach. At Carralon Beach, a portion of seawall breached forcing a five-foot wall of water collapsed the first floor of the Pinnacle Port Resort meeting room. Strong winds blew metal awnings off several businesses and storm surge flooding washed out portions of Front Beach and Thomas Rds in Panama City Beach. Calhoun County officials reported 15 to 20 homes surrounded by high water and severe erosion to numerous unpaved county roads. Across Coastal and Inland Walton County, storm surges of 10 to 12 feet above tide levels caused extensive beach erosion and undermined numerous coastal structures. Considerable coastal flooding damaged several homes and businesses. 132 roads were closed including Interstate 10 from Mossy Head to Crestview. Five people stranded on the Shoal River Bridge near CR 1087 were rescued by boat. An earthen dam at Kings Lake threatened to breach and 100 residents were evacuated. The Alaque Creek overflowed its banks and flooded homes from Portland to Freeport. Dixie County experienced minor coastal flooding with many county roads and residences flooded. Franklin County reported FL 30 and U.S. 98 closed to flooding and erosion from Carrabelle Park to 4th St in Eastpoint. A few roads were closed to flooding, scattered trees and power lines down, and six homes damaged in Gadsden County. Gulf County officials reported numerous roads closed and flooding of some homes and businesses. In Holmes County, 30 roads flooded and 20 bridges washed out. An emergency evacuation of 300 residents along creeks between FL 77 and 79. Severe damage to Caryville campsites along the Choctawhatchee River. The Purdue Farms was damaged by flooding killing 48,000 chickens. Jackson County reported several trees down, some onto power lines in the Woodrest community. Flood waters closed FL 2 in Campbellton and 15 other county roads. Across Jefferson County, numerous county roads experienced flood damage with 13 closed. A few roads were closed to flooding, and isolated tree and power line damage occurred throughout Lafayette County. Leon County officials reported some urban and small stream flooding as well as scattered reports of downed trees and power lines. FL 20 was closed from Tallahassee west to the Liberty-Leon County line. 1,800 customers in Northeast Tallahassee lost power when a large tree fell onto a utility line. Liberty County experienced flooding of seven homes and one business. Several county roads were damaged by erosion and numerous others affected by high water. Taylor County reported some minor coastal flooding and a few roads closed to high water. High winds downed several large trees onto utility lines one mile west of Crawfordville and minor coastal flooding was observed in Wakulla County. Flooding damaged nine roads and forced the evacuation of residents along the Choctawhatchee River at Caryville in Washington County.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5667265. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.