AUSTELL, Ga. --- Neighborhoods, schools and even roller coasters at Six Flags over Georgia remained awash in several feet of murky, brown water Tuesday, even as an emerging sun shed light on the widespread flood damage.
So far, at least nine deaths in Georgia and Alabama were blamed on the torrential downpours in the Southeast. The storms finally relented and relief was in sight with just a slight chance of rain overnight, but the onslaught left many parts of the region in stagnant water.
In Tennessee, a man was still missing after jumping into the fast-moving water as part of a bet. Boats and trucks evacuated 120 residents from a retirement center as nearby creeks rose, and several hundred others were ferried from low-lying neighborhoods and motels to dry land.
Several hundred people in Georgia took refuge at shelters and officials worked to clean up and repair washed out roads and bridges. Georgia officials estimated $250 million in damages.
The storm left nine people dead, including a toddler swept from his father's arms. On Tuesday, rescuers found the body of 14-year-old Nicholas Osley who was swimming in the Chattooga River, along with another woman who was swept from her car in Douglas County just west of Atlanta.
Authorities also released a 15-minute 911 call of another storm victim's last moments. Seydi Burciaga, 39, screamed to a dispatcher as water rose to her neck. The dispatcher advises her to try to break a window, but she can't.
"I don't want to drown here, please!" Ms. Burciaga said.
After several days of steady rain, the ground was saturated from Alabama through Georgia into eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina. The floods came just months after a two-year drought in the region ended with winter rains.
Georgia emergency officials warned residents not to return to their homes too soon because the lingering water was still dangerous. Some ignored officials and had to be rescued.
"We had people who were out safely but decided they wanted to get back in danger," said Charley English, the head of Georgia Emergency Management Agency.
The devastation surrounding Atlanta was widespread. In Austell, about 17 miles west of downtown Atlanta, Sweetwater Creek overflowed, sending muddy water rushing into a mobile home park where several trailers were almost completely submerged.
"We don't know what to do," said Jenny Roque, 30, who lived there with her husband and four children. "The only thing we have left is our truck."
Just down the road, in the Mulberry Creek subdivision, large houses built just five years ago were partially underwater.
"There's things that you can't replace, but it's just stuff," said Deborah Golden.
GAUGING RAINFALL
Some parts of Georgia saw more than 20 inches of rain from Friday to Monday, and the devastation around Atlanta is widespread. Reporting from Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the National Weather Service shows Atlanta's 30-day rainfall total -- through Monday -- at 11.97 inches, 8.01 inches above normal.
Augusta's rainfall totals depend on whom you ask -- and where the rain is collected:
2.71"
September rainfall as measured at Augusta Regional Airport
9.6"
September rainfall as measured in the Stevens Creek Road area
Comments
One of my fears is that I might end up in a lake or flood in my car and won't be able to get out, even if I have one of those little hammers. I feel for that woman who was trapped. I also feel for the man whose child was swept away from his arms-he must be devastated-contrasting that with the joker who jumped in the water as a bet.
It is a scarey situation, especially when you have close family there.
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