Roads were blocked, churches handed out bottled water, and rescuers evacuated cats and dogs Monday after heavy weekend rains led to flash flooding in parts of north Georgia.
The deluge prompted Gov. Brian Kemp to declare a state of emergency as emergency responders urged residents to avoid driving through hazardous conditions.
While rain briefly abated Monday, showers were forecast to return in North Georgia, raising the possibility of further dangers throughout a wet week.
Credit: Animal Advocates of Chattooga County
Credit: Animal Advocates of Chattooga County
In Summerville, more than 10 inches of rain fell over the weekend and the Chattooga River rose almost 17 feet, according to the National Weather Service.
Churches in Summerville and Trion distributed bottled water to residents who lacked clean water service in their homes. Residents were told to boil water to ensure it’s safe to drink.
At Chattooga County Animal Control, dogs and cats were relocated to other facilities because of the danger of flooding. The displaced animals included 12 dogs, 11 cats, six puppies and five to seven kittens.
“Many people are without water and there is a boil advisory on the water,” wrote Animal Advocates of Chattooga County on Facebook. “Animal Advocates’ goal is to get all the puppies and kittens at Summerville Vet Office to rescue.”
The hardest-hit areas got between six and 12 inches of rain on Sunday, NWS Atlanta said.
“Some locations that will experience flooding include Rome, Summerville, Trion, Shannon, Lyerly, Menlo, James H. Floyd State Park, Tidings, Berryton, Holland, Armuchee, Chattoogaville, Coosa, Subligna and Cloudland,” the agency said.
The weather service said Monday that it would take time for flooding to clear, but then more rain could be on the way.
“Numerous roads remain closed due to flooding,” NWS Atlanta said. “It will take several hours for all the water from these storms to work through local drainage systems in urban areas.”
Summerville Mayor Harry Harvey described his town’s trying conditions as “a crisis as far as the water is concerned,” reported Channel 2 Action News.
Credit: Animal Advocates of Chattooga County
Credit: Animal Advocates of Chattooga County
The town’s web site advises residents to boil water due to flash flooding at the Raccoon Creek Filter plant:
“In order to protect the public from a potential health hazard, all citizens that utilize City of Summerville Water utility services are advised to boil all water prior to use for drinking, cooking, or preparing baby food. The water should be boiled for at least one minute after reaching a rolling boil. Citizens should continue to boil their water until they are notified by their drinking water utility that the water system has been restored to full operation, and that the microbiological quality of the water in the distribution system is safe for human consumption.”
Flood warnings were in effect Monday for Chattooga, Floyd, Gordgon and Walker counties, according to the National Weather Service. Flood watches covered roughly a third of Georgia, stretching from the Alabama border and Columbus to South Carolina and Toccoa.
The forecast called for continued chances of thunderstorms throughout the week.
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