Metro Atlanta under flood watch; Red Cross helps 44 flood victims

By Rhonda Cook

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

North and Central Georgia, including Metro Atlanta, are under a flood watch until Monday evening, forecasters said Sunday.

Storms and showers that dumped several inches of rain Saturday will continue Sunday and Monday, meteorologist Jessica Fieux of the National Weather Service said. The rainfall is expected to lessen by Wednesday when the chance of rain drops to 30 percent. It's currently at 90 percent for Sunday, she said.

Atlanta area Red Cross volunteers came to the aid of 44 people whose homes were flooded from heavy rains during the weekend and are preparing to assist more if storms are severe.

"We didn't expect all of this rain, all at one time," said Ruben Brown, Red Cross spokesman.

Those whose homes were flooded were provided hotel rooms for the night, Brown said.

More than five inches of water poured down in some areas of the metro area Saturday, flooding homes and floating cars in at least one neighborhood. As of Sunday afternoon, 1,800 people across the metro area were without power, said Georgia Power spokesman John Kraft.

The National Weather Service said between daybreak and 8 p.m. Saturday, Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport recorded 3.7 inches of rain.

That's nowhere near the record-amount of rain for Atlanta, according to meteorologist Matt Sena with the National Weather Service.

"7.36 inches fell in 1886," Sena said Saturday.

But Saturday's rains were enough to flood the homes of 17 people at a Cleveland Avenue apartment complex. Two other Fulton County complexes had significant flood damage, Brown said, and residents needed shelter assistance.

At a new rain measuring station in East Point, 5.04 inches fell between midnight and 1 p.m. Saturday.

That location is near the South River, which, along with Intrenchmet Creek and Camp Creek, sent water spilling into two houses on Macon Drive in southeast Atlanta.

Lawrence Washington, who has owned a house in the 2200 block of Macon Drive for 16 years, said he had "never seen anything like this."

He said a wall of water rushed inside the brick home, filling the first floor halfway up the door frames and floating furniture. Washington said the detached garage of his home was lifted off its foundation.

The water apparently flushed a neighbor's car down the creek, he said. It has not been seen since.

The South River also spilled into Atlanta's water treatment plant on Browns Mill road and workers brought in pumps to get it out. Spokeswoman Janet Ward said the plant was not shut down, however.

Nearby, at Allstate Waste Inc. on Jonesboro Road, the sanitation company's heavy machinery, including backhoes, was under water. And the parking lot at Lakewood Amphitheater was underwater.

Meteorologist Kent McMullen said the downpour's not over, but the heavy rain moving into Georgia from Alabama may hit somewhere else in the state.

There has been rain every day since Tuesday. The Weather Service recorded .04 inches Tuesday, 0.76 inches Wednesday, 0.53 inches Thursday and just a trace amount Friday.

"There's a who lot of rain out there to drain off," Sena said.

As a result of the sometimes heavy and almost constant rain, a few trees fell and power was knocked out temporarily in some neighborhoods.

A large tree fell on the home of Atlanta City Councilman Caesar Mitchell in southwest Atlanta, but damage appeared to be minor. Mitchell was not at home during the incident.

Forecasters say it could be several days before the area dries up.

“I don’t think anyone ever misses a drought, although I’m sure a lot of people across central and eastern Georgia would like to miss the rain for a day of two,” Sena said.

Anyone who would like to assist flood victims is asked to contact the Red Cross at 404-876-3706 or go online to atlantaredcross.org.

— Johnny Crawford and Rhonda Cook contributed to this report.