Flashback Photos: Georgia floods, September 2009

Metro Atlanta

Flashback Photos: Georgia floods, September 2009

The rains came. And the rains stayed. September of 2009 was a month of historic rainfall totals, with devastating floods affecting areas of metro Atlanta and beyond.

090921 Lilburn - RUSH HOUR MANIA - A female motorist abandons her flooded vehicle on I-75 South at spagetti junction as part of the highway becomes covered with water during rush hour on Monday, Sept. 21, 2009. A Georgia State patrolman arrived on the scene to help aid the motorist who declined to be identified. Curtis Compton, ccompton@ajc.com

This is flooding at the corner of Hanover West and Bohler Road in Northwest Atlanta. I live at Cross Creek Condo Assoc and this is right out our front gate. Its water coming from Peachtree Creek. From Carroll Rogers/ajc

090921 - Douglas County - Jason Goodson and his 9-year old son, Zachary came to Post Road Monday to see the washed away roadway. The Roadway washed out along Post Road about a mile south of I-20 in Winston, Douglas County Monday, September 21, 2009. No one was hurt from the incident. Most of metro Atlanta was under a flash flood warning Monday morning after a foot or more of rain flooded homes, businesses and roadways. Emergency personnel in at least two counties were busy rescuing residents from high water before daybreak Monday. While the flood warning was posted after midnight for Fulton, DeKalb, Clayton, eastern Cobb, Forsyth and Gwinnett counties, the worst flooding appeared to be in Douglas and Paulding counties, which had been under a flood warning since earlier in the evening. There, National Weather Service radar estimated that as much as 15 inches of rain had fallen since Friday, much of it beginning on Sunday afternoon, when a series of strong storms began training, or following one another, northward through the area. Those storms were still dumping rain across the western suburbs at 4 a.m. The Weather Service said 3 to 7 inches had fallen just since 9 p.m. Sunday from Franklin in west Georgia through Carrollton and Douglasville to Dallas. John Spink, jspink@ajc.com

Cars make their way through a flooded downtown connector on Monday afternoon Sept. 21, 2009. Photo Courtesy Georgia Department of Transportation

090921 Tucker -- (CQ) DeKalb Police Officer L. Armstrong tapes off the NE Expressway Access road due to flood waters from a nearby creek in Tucker Monday, September 21, 2009. Vino Wong, vwong@ajc.com

090921- Flooded out intersection at Hiram Acworth Highway at Powder Creek Way. There is a small neighborhood that is also flooded - Mon, Sep. 21, 2009. Bob Andres, bandres@ajc.com

090921 Atlanta--Jullian Phillips, 42, a resident whose mother lives on Sagamore Drive in a family home they have owned since 1954, helps neighbor Cathrine Nelke, 43, who has a water main break on top of the flooding from nearby Peachtree Creek on Woodward Way. Phillips says everything in his mother's basement is under five feet of water, he said. "We haven't had a flood like this since this since Hurrican Ivan...because we've been in a drought. We kinda got spoiled," he said. "Now everything in the basement is under five feet of water. It's time to start throwing some stuff away and drying some stuff out."
Elissa Eubanks,eeubanks@ajc.com

090921 - Austell - A home in the 2400 block of Brooks Drive in Austell is submerged in flood water Monday. Most of metro Atlanta was under a flash flood warning Monday morning after a foot or more of rain flooded homes, businesses and roadways. Emergency personnel in at least two counties were busy rescuing residents from high water before daybreak Monday. While the flood warning was posted after midnight for Fulton, DeKalb, Clayton, eastern Cobb, Forsyth and Gwinnett counties, the worst flooding appeared to be in Douglas and Paulding counties, which had been under a flood warning since earlier in the evening. There, National Weather Service radar estimated that as much as 15 inches of rain had fallen since Friday, much of it beginning on Sunday afternoon, when a series of strong storms began training, or following one another, northward through the area. Those storms were still dumping rain across the western suburbs at 4 a.m. The Weather Service said 3 to 7 inches had fallen just since 9 p.m. Sunday from Franklin in west Georgia through Carrollton and Douglasville to Dallas. John Spink, jspink@ajc.com

090921- Powder Springs - The Seven Springs Museum on Marietta Rd. is under water. Flooding in downtown Powder Springs at Marietta Road and Brownsville Road.. Many roads were closed do to flooding. Mon, Sep. 21, 2009. Bob Andres, bandres@ajc.com

090921 Lilburn - WATER HAZARD - With his home entirely surrounded by water Geoffry Daniel, 14, makes the best of the situation by chipping golf ball across the flooded street in the Connemara subdivision near Lilburn on Monday, Sept. 21, 2009. His mother Sheri Richardson said "We are an island. We have our own golf course. We are good". Curtis Compton, ccompton@ajc.com

090921--LILBURN-- Gwinnett Police officers and Sheriffs Department deputies block the bridge across the Yellow River on Killian Hill Road Monday morning. The normally placid Yellow River was turned into a raging flood that overflowed its banks during torrential rains late Sunday night. Flooding was widespread in several counties in metro Atlanta Monday, with more rain in the forecast. Kent D. Johnson, kdjohnson@ajc.com

090921 Atlanta--Andy Hickey with the U.S. Geological Survey checks to see if anyone is in a car that is submerged on Northside Drive at Woodward Monday, finding nobody. Hickey was there to check the gauge to see what stage the water was at, finding a record. As of 5:30pm, the water was at 23.17 ft with the record being 22.54 ft. Elissa Eubanks,eeubanks@ajc.com

090921 Atlanta--Doug Alexander walks through waist high water flowing in front of his North Atlanta home to his car Monday to pick up his son from school. Alexander said he was relieved that even though there was a river flowing across his front lawn it had not yet come in the front door but was still worried about his basement.
Elissa Eubanks,eeubanks@ajc.com

090922 Lawrenceville -- The swollen Sweetwater Creek closed Hwy 29 in Lawrenceville Tuesday, September 22, 2009. More rain is likely and a flood watch remains in effect through Tuesday night. As day began to break Tuesday morning, the weather service's Web site showed a line of storms over north Georgia from Dalton to Gainesville -- but not metro Atlanta.
Vino Wong, vwong@ajc.com

090921 - Cobb County - Frank Ubay was on the way home to Nashville from Florida when he heard about the flooding in Atlanta and took a look at the flooded I-285 from the Bolton Road overpass Tuesday. The flooding continued Tuesday September 22, 2009 in the Atlanta metro area as I-285 at the Bolton Road overpass - north by several hundred yards was flooded over both sides of the interstate. Georgia Department of Transportation crews closed 11 bridges and a number of state-controlled roads and highways after Monday's flooding. DOT officials recommended that commuters who didn't need to travel remain home. "If someone is in an area that is experiencing flooding over the past few days, it may be a challenge to commute," spokeswoman Crystal Paulk-Buchanan. "The challenge that people are going to have are county roads and city roads." Among state thoroughfares, I-285 northbound at Hollowell Parkway and southbound at Cobb Parkway in Cobb County remained closed, because water from the Chattahoochee River was cresting the bridges. Flooding on Sweetwater Creek closed the I-20 eastbound lane between Lee and Thornton roads. The bridge will remain closed until the water recedes, and detours are in place. DOT also closed I-575 just at Highway 92 near the Cobb-Cherokee county line for flooding. DOT officials expect to open the three closed road sometime Tuesday, but Paulk-Buchanan said, in particular, bridges will remain closed so long as water is touching the underside of the bridges. John Spink, jspink@ajc.com

CORRECTION - (date) 090922 - Cobb County - A HERO driver makes an early morning assessment of the flooding I-285. The flooding continued Tuesday September 22, 2009 in the Atlanta metro area as I-285 at the Bolton Road overpass - north by several hundred yards was flooded over both sides of the interstate. Georgia Department of Transportation crews closed 11 bridges and a number of state-controlled roads and highways after Monday's flooding. DOT officials recommended that commuters who didn't need to travel remain home. "If someone is in an area that is experiencing flooding over the past few days, it may be a challenge to commute," spokeswoman Crystal Paulk-Buchanan. "The challenge that people are going to have are county roads and city roads." Among state thoroughfares, I-285 northbound at Hollowell Parkway and southbound at Cobb Parkway in Cobb County remained closed, because water from the Chattahoochee River was cresting the bridges. Flooding on Sweetwater Creek closed the I-20 eastbound lane between Lee and Thornton roads. The bridge will remain closed until the water recedes, and detours are in place. DOT also closed I-575 just at Highway 92 near the Cobb-Cherokee county line for flooding. DOT officials expect to open the three closed road sometime Tuesday, but Paulk-Buchanan said, in particular, bridges will remain closed so long as water is touching the underside of the bridges. John Spink, jspink@ajc.com

CORRECTION - (date) 090922 - Cobb County - A I-285 sign is submerged just north of the Bolton Road overpass. The flooding continued Tuesday September 22, 2009 in the Atlanta metro area as I-285 at the Bolton Road overpass - north by several hundred yards was flooded over both sides of the interstate. Georgia Department of Transportation crews closed 11 bridges and a number of state-controlled roads and highways after Monday's flooding. DOT officials recommended that commuters who didn't need to travel remain home. "If someone is in an area that is experiencing flooding over the past few days, it may be a challenge to commute," spokeswoman Crystal Paulk-Buchanan. "The challenge that people are going to have are county roads and city roads." Among state thoroughfares, I-285 northbound at Hollowell Parkway and southbound at Cobb Parkway in Cobb County remained closed, because water from the Chattahoochee River was cresting the bridges. Flooding on Sweetwater Creek closed the I-20 eastbound lane between Lee and Thornton roads. The bridge will remain closed until the water recedes, and detours are in place. DOT also closed I-575 just at Highway 92 near the Cobb-Cherokee county line for flooding. DOT officials expect to open the three closed road sometime Tuesday, but Paulk-Buchanan said, in particular, bridges will remain closed so long as water is touching the underside of the bridges. John Spink, jspink@ajc.com

090922- Roswell - The parking lot at Don White Park in Roswell is flooded. Flooding along the Chattahoochee River in Roswell. Tues, Sept. 22, 2009. CORRECTED DATE. Bob Andres, bandres@ajc.com

090922 - COBB COUNTY - Fulton County Firefighter Fred Brown, Fulton County) looks over the bridge on MLK Drive into the rising Chattahoochee River for a man reported floating down the river on Tuesday, September 22, 2009. The other fire fighters are (left tot right) Tony Reed, Villa Rica, and Christopher Almond, Macon. The bridge separates Cobb County from Fulton County. The water was less than 2 feet below the cars on the bridge. Johnny Crawford/Jcrawford@ajc.com

090922 - COBB COUNTY - Water from the Chattahoochee River cover the west bound lane of I-20 north of the Six Flags Parkway Exit 47 on Tuesday, September 22, 2009. The road remained empty because of 2 feet of water in some lanes. Johnny Crawford/ Jcrawford@ajc.com

090922 - Vinings - Shirley Davenport (left) and Chuck MacKarvich (right) ferry supplies to their home at 3940 Paces Manor Tuesday. They lost 4 of their 5 cars to flood damage - including a 2010 2 XKR Jag. Residents and business owners are dealing with a major flooding issue Tuesday, September 22, 2009 as the Chattahoochee River made its way along the banks near Paces Ferry Road. Many residents with upscale homes were hit hard, some for the second time since an earlier post millennia flooding episode. Since early Monday, seven lives have been taken and several other people remain missing. The record-setting rains also have closed schools and roads and have left people stranded in their homes. The river's level near Vinings was at 27.36 feet before daybreak Tuesday after cresting at 28.1 feet overnight. Flood stage is 14 feet, and anything above 20 feet is considered "major" flooding. The river was expected to slowly recede, falling below flood stage on Wednesday. The level overnight was the second highest on record, exceeded only by a crest of 29 feet in 1919. John Spink, jspink@ajc.comShirley

090922 - Vinings - John Knox takes his kayak back to his house on Paces Ferry Drive as he ferried supplies to and from his house that is 5 feet under water. The 2004 flood came within an inch of getting in. This time they weren't so lucky. Vinings residents and business owners were dealing with a major flooding issue Tuesday, September 22, 2009 as the Chattahoochee River made its way along the banks near Paces Ferry Road. Many residents with upscale homes were hit hard, some for the second time since an earlier post millennia flooding episode. Since early Monday, seven lives have been taken and several other people remain missing. The record-setting rains also have closed schools and roads and have left people stranded in their homes. The river's level near Vinings was at 27.36 feet before daybreak Tuesday after cresting at 28.1 feet overnight. Flood stage is 14 feet, and anything above 20 feet is considered "major" flooding. The river was expected to slowly recede, falling below flood stage on Wednesday. The level overnight was the second highest on record, exceeded only by a crest of 29 feet in 1919. John Spink, jspink@ajc.com

090922 - Vinings - Paddling down Paces Ferry Drive, Ben Prince (left) used his canoe to ferry neighbor, Jim Hobbs and his dog, Dylan (right) to and from their home Tuesday as they gathered supplies. Vinings residents and business owners were dealing with a major flooding issue Tuesday, September 22, 2009 as the Chattahoochee River made its way along the banks near Paces Ferry Road. Many residents with upscale homes were hit hard, some for the second time since an earlier post millennia flooding episode. Since early Monday, seven lives have been taken and several other people remain missing. The record-setting rains also have closed schools and roads and have left people stranded in their homes. The river's level near Vinings was at 27.36 feet before daybreak Tuesday after cresting at 28.1 feet overnight. Flood stage is 14 feet, and anything above 20 feet is considered "major" flooding. The river was expected to slowly recede, falling below flood stage on Wednesday. The level overnight was the second highest on record, exceeded only by a crest of 29 feet in 1919. John Spink, jspink@ajc.com

090922 - Vinings - Canoe Restaurant employees, Victoria Worthen (left) and Heather Iverson (right) contemplte what clean-up will be like when the waters recede at the Vinings On The River shopping strip Tuesday. Vinings residents and business owners were dealing with a major flooding issue Tuesday, September 22, 2009 as the Chattahoochee River made its way along the banks near Paces Ferry Road. Many residents with upscale homes were hit hard, some for the second time since an earlier post millennia flooding episode. Since early Monday, seven lives have been taken and several other people remain missing. The record-setting rains also have closed schools and roads and have left people stranded in their homes. The river's level near Vinings was at 27.36 feet before daybreak Tuesday after cresting at 28.1 feet overnight. Flood stage is 14 feet, and anything above 20 feet is considered "major" flooding. The river was expected to slowly recede, falling below flood stage on Wednesday. The level overnight was the second highest on record, exceeded only by a crest of 29 feet in 1919. John Spink, jspink@ajc.com

090922-ATLANTA, GA: Flood waters from Sweetwater Creek cover Six Flags it's parking lot and part of I-20. PHIL SKINNER, pskinner@ajc.com

090922- Powder Springs - This house remains under water this afternoon on Oglesby Road in Powder Springs. Some roads remained closed and flooded in Powder Springs. The Five Oaks neighborhood remained inaccessible due to flood waters, but some residents attempted to get to their houses by boat, or by wading through the water. One house burned to the ground yesterday when Cobb County firefighters had to abandon their engine due to rising water. The house still smolders today. Tues Sep. 22, 2009. Bob Andres, bandres@ajc.com

090922- Powder Springs - Earl Knight uses a shovel as an oar as rows down the still flooded Oglesby Road in Powder Springs with Cornell Daniels. Daniels home is flooded, and Knight is a friend from his church who was on hand to help him. Some roads remained closed and flooded in Powder Springs. The Five Oaks neighborhood remained inaccessible due to flood waters, but some residents attempted to get to their houses by boat, or by wading through the water. One house burned to the ground yesterday when Cobb County firefighters had to abandon their engine due to rising water. The house still smolders today. Tues Sep. 22, 2009. Bob Andres, bandres@ajc.com

090922 - COBB COUNTY - A Cobb County police officer stands guard near his vehicle while onlookers watch as the rapidly moving water from Sweetwater Creek separates Veterans Memorial Highway in Austell on Tuesday, September 22, 2009. The water from the creek has flooded homes, schools and businesses. Johnny Crawford/ Jcrawford@ajc.com

090922 Lawrenceville - Carlos Jara Savcedo walks back after check his mobil homes at Countryside Village of Atlanta. Savcedo said he has lived this mobile village for 5 years and never seen like this. Tuesday, September 22, 2009. Hyosub Shin, hshin@ajc.com

090922 Atlanta--A car still has a film of dirt on it after being submerged on Bolton Road in Atlanta Tuesday, Sep 22, 2009. Elissa Eubanks,eeubanks@ajc.com

090922 Atlanta--A home on Paul Street in Atlanta is almost underwater Tuesday, Sep 22, 2009. A neighbor, Maurice Dixon, 35, has lived in his home for eight years but says he is now considering moving. "It was very close to home," Dixon said. Dixon goes on to say, that an entire house is underwater near the one in this photograph. Elissa Eubanks,eeubanks@ajc.com

090922 - Douglas County - Skyview Drive in Douglas County is one of over 75 roads closed due to flooding in metro Atlanta on Tuesday, September 22, 2009. The water covering the road came from Sweetwater Creek. Johnny Crawford/ Jcrawford@ajc.com

090922 Atlanta: I-20 was closed Tuesday September 22, 2009 after flood waters from Sweetwater Creek flooded the road.Brant Sanderlin, bsanderlin@ajc.com

090922 Atlanta: A common site in Douglas, Cobb and Paulding counties September 22, 2009. Brant Sanderlin, bsanderlin@ajc.com

090923- Austell - 3-year old Ximana Flores holds her mother's hand (Ivania) Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at Clay Road and Victoria Lane where the Noses Creek flooded the entire surrounding area along its banks in Austell. Ximana along with her father Jose (not pictured) and mother were not able to reach their home located on Mosley Chase Drive some 5-blocks away since last Sunday night when they left. They do not know the condition of their house. Soggy metro Atlantans trying to dry out from this week's deluge can thank a high-pressure system centered off the New England coast for Wednedsday's sunny weather and blame an approaching cold front for the forecast of more rain later in the week. While the National Weather Service is predicting partly sunny skies and highs in the mid-80s today, a slight chance of rain creeps back into the forecast beginning on Thursday. While the National Weather Service is predicting partly sunny skies and highs in the mid-80s today, a slight chance of rain creeps back into the forecast beginning on Thursday. The risk of showers and thunderstorms will increase through Saturday night, as the weak cold front moves in from the west. John Spink, jspink@ajc.com

090923- Austell -Cobb County Superintendent,Fred Sanderson navigates his way through the debris inside the front hallway of Clarkdale Elementary school Wednesday in Austell. Waters finally receded enough for officials to take a look at the flooded Clarkdale Elementary School in Austell Wednesday, September 23, 2009. Cobb County Superintendent, Fred Sanderson arrived at the school just a couple of hours after the waters had gone down. He said he had never experienced a loss of a school like this in his career and said the students would be back with their teachers and staff divided between two area schools in the coming days. Soggy metro Atlantans trying to dry out from this week's deluge can thank a high-pressure system centered off the New England coast for Wednesday's sunny weather and blame an approaching cold front for the forecast of more rain later in the week. While the National Weather Service is predicting partly sunny skies and highs in the mid-80s today, a slight chance of rain creeps back into the forecast beginning on Thursday. While the National Weather Service is predicting partly sunny skies and highs in the mid-80s today, a slight chance of rain creeps back into the forecast beginning on Thursday. The risk of showers and thunderstorms will increase through Saturday night, as the weak cold front moves in from the west. John Spink, jspink@ajc.com

090923- Austell - The playground was left in quite a mess. Waters finally receded enough for officials to take a look at the flooded Clarkdale Elementary School in Austell Wednesday, September 23, 2009. Cobb County Superintendent, Fred Sanderson arrived at the school just a couple of hours after the waters had gone down. He said he had never experienced a loss of a school like this in his career and said the students would be back with their teachers and staff divided between two area schools in the coming days. Soggy metro Atlantans trying to dry out from this week's deluge can thank a high-pressure system centered off the New England coast for Wednesday's sunny weather and blame an approaching cold front for the forecast of more rain later in the week. While the National Weather Service is predicting partly sunny skies and highs in the mid-80s today, a slight chance of rain creeps back into the forecast beginning on Thursday. While the National Weather Service is predicting partly sunny skies and highs in the mid-80s today, a slight chance of rain creeps back into the forecast beginning on Thursday. The risk of showers and thunderstorms will increase through Saturday night, as the weak cold front moves in from the west. John Spink, jspink@ajc.com

090923- Austell - Cobb County School District director of communications, Jay Dillon looks over some of the classroom trailers Wednesday. Waters finally receded enough for officials to take a look at the flooded Clarkdale Elementary School in Austell Wednesday, September 23, 2009. Cobb County Superintendent, Fred Sanderson arrived at the school just a couple of hours after the waters had gone down. He said he had never experienced a loss of a school like this in his career and said the students would be back with their teachers and staff divided between two area schools in the coming days. Soggy metro Atlantans trying to dry out from this week's deluge can thank a high-pressure system centered off the New England coast for Wednesday's sunny weather and blame an approaching cold front for the forecast of more rain later in the week. While the National Weather Service is predicting partly sunny skies and highs in the mid-80s today, a slight chance of rain creeps back into the forecast beginning on Thursday. While the National Weather Service is predicting partly sunny skies and highs in the mid-80s today, a slight chance of rain creeps back into the forecast beginning on Thursday. The risk of showers and thunderstorms will increase through Saturday night, as the weak cold front moves in from the west. John Spink, jspink@ajc.com

090922 Atlanta: Flooded subdivision in Cobb County near Austell September 22, 2009 . Brant Sanderlin, bsanderlin@ajc.com

092309: Reader and photographer Caroline E. Smith took this photo at the Krog Street Tunnel in Cabbagetown in Atlanta. Colin and Tanya Barry live in Cabbagetown and own a canoe and Colin could not resist the opportunity. Said Smith: "I heard that Carroll Street was flooded, so i asked my neighbor if she wanted to hop in the jeep with me and check it out. We had to get through this tunnel to get there, so needless to say traffic was diverted. We both screamed like the girls we are when we saw this couple canoeing in the tunnel. I parked at the nearest street and hurried back. She loaned me her rain boots, but at this point in the tunnel, they were useless as the water was way past them. I decided to just really get in there to get this shot because it's sort of a one-in-a-lifetime thing." Photo by reader Caroline E. Smith

090922 Atlanta: Dream Commute. Both lanes of I-285 on the west side were shut down due to flooding from the Chattahoochee River September 22, 2009. Brant Sanderlin, bsanderlin@ajc.com

090922 Atlanta: Flooded subdivision off Oglesby Road in Powder Springs September 22, 2009. Powder Springs Creeks is located behind the subdivision. Brant Sanderlin, bsanderlin@ajc.com

ATLANTA, GEORGIA-SEPTEMBER 22, 2009: This is a satelite image showing wide spread flooding in the Sixe Flags over Georgia park, outside of downtown Altanta. (credit:DigitalGlobe)

090922 Lawrenceville -- (ALL CQ) Ramon Juarez said his moblie home was spared from the flood waters at the Countryside Village subdivision in Lawrencevile Tuesday, September 22, 2009. He said last night the flood waters covered the Stop sign. Next to him is his daughter Yaileni, 6. Vino Wong, vwong@ajc.com

090922 Lawrenceville -- Flood waters from nearby Sweetwater Creek submerged mobile homes in the Countryside subdivision in Lawrencevile Tuesday, September 22, 2009.
Vino Wong, vwong@ajc.com

(FOR SUNDAY ONLY) 090924 Austell, Ga. -- Residents of Sweetwater Valley Condominiums Cherise Banner, 20, left, and her mother Jennipher Ward, right, separate wet family photographs on a blanket to dry as they recover from the Monday flood Thursday morning in Austell, Ga., September 24, 2009. Flood water came into every unit in the complex filling the first floor with water a little above waist level (around 40 inches). Ward has hundreds of family photographs that she keeps for the family dating back to the 1930s. Jason Getz, jgetz@ajc.com

090921 Atlanta--(from left) Tanqueray Clark, 31, and Tony Cameron, 53, walk up Clark's driveway after removing some of Clark's more expensive belongings from the home. Cameron was driving home and saw this house he had once looked at owning with his wife submerged in water and says he just couldn't stop. Clark who has owned this home for two years and calls the flooding an "act of God" did not know Cameron until today. Elissa Eubanks,eeubanks@ajc.com

LOCATION CORRECTION - 090922-ATLANTA, GA: Flood waters from the Chattahoochee River cover Six Flags. PHIL SKINNER, pskinner@ajc.com

LOCATION CORRECTION - 090922-ATLANTA, GA: Flood waters from the Chattahoochee River cover Six Flags. PHIL SKINNER, pskinner@ajc.com

LOCATION CORRECTION - 090922-ATLANTA, GA: Flood waters from the Chattahoochee River cover part of I-20 and nearby Six Flags. PHIL SKINNER, pskinner@ajc.com

090922 - Vinings - Joe Rich moved to 3935 Paces Manor 2.5 year ago. Tuesday he was trapped at his house with no way out - but a boat. He has been ferrying various things back and forth and is surprised he still has power. Vinings residents were dealing with a major flooding issue Tuesday, September 22, 2009 as the Chattahoochee River made its way along the banks near Paces Ferry Road. Many residents with upscale homes were hit hard, some for the second time since an earlier post millennia flooding episode. Since early Monday, seven lives have been taken and several other people remain missing. The record-setting rains also have closed schools and roads and have left people stranded in their homes. The river's level near Vinings was at 27.36 feet before daybreak Tuesday after cresting at 28.1 feet overnight. Flood stage is 14 feet, and anything above 20 feet is considered "major" flooding. The river was expected to slowly recede, falling below flood stage on Wednesday. The level overnight was the second highest on record, exceeded only by a crest of 29 feet in 1919. John Spink, jspink@ajc.com

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090921 Lilburn - RUSH HOUR MANIA - A female motorist abandons her flooded vehicle on I-75 South at spagetti junction as part of the highway becomes covered with water during rush hour on Monday, Sept. 21, 2009. A Georgia State patrolman arrived on the scene to help aid the motorist who declined to be identified. Curtis Compton, ccompton@ajc.com

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