Cobb under flood warning as Michael leaves downed trees, power outages

Rainfall totals from Michael

Rainfall totals from Michael

Much like other metro counties, Cobb didn’t fare well with Michael.

The county is under a flood warning by The National Weather Service until further notice, following damages sustained from Hurrican Michael, now a tropical storm. Rainfall levels in Powder Springs reached 6.34 inches, according to Channel 2 Action News, the highest in the metro Atlanta area.

Michael became a Category 4 hurricane Wednesday morning and made landfall in Mexico Beach just before 2 p.m., Channel 2 reported. The storm, the strongest to make landfall in the Florida Panhandle, claimed two lives including an 11-year-old in southwest Georgia.

Heavy flooding was reported on the East-West Connector near Highlands Ridge Parkway, county spokesman Ross Cavitt said Thursday morning. Roads were also flooded near Jim Owens Road in Kennesaw and the intersection of Hawkins Store and Canton roads.

Though much of the damage is clear, Cavitt said crews were dispatched to Birch Haven Trace, Garrett Road, Midway Road and Brookwood Drive regarding downed trees. A regulatory sign was also reported down at Bells Ferry and Chastain roads.

While the county hasn’t had severe damage, Cavitt said one tree fell on an unoccupied truck.

“That was the worst,” he said.

Just before 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Georgia Power was reporting about 230 customers without power in the county. Cobb EMC was reporting about 100 customers in the dark.

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Cobb’s wreckage comes after the county was under a tornado warning Wednesday evening as harsh rains and winds increased in the area. The county was expected to receive up to two inches of rain.

In anticipation of the storm, Cobb DOT crews spent much of the day Wednesday clearing clogged storm drains and preparing their tree clearing equipment.

What damage has been done hasn’t been enough to close schools.

Cobb County Schools announced classes will resume as normal Thursday.