The Deluge

Post by **wilson** » September 21st, 2009, 9:51 pm

According to the National Weather Service, metro Atlanta has gotten as many as 13 inches of rain in the past 36 hours. Lake Lanier, our main (yet insufficient) reservoir about 45 minutes north of the city, is up more than two feet since last Wednesday. Five people, including a two year-old boy, are confirmed dead, with at least half a dozen more missing and presumed drowned. There will be hundreds of millions in flooding damages, much of it uncovered for homeowners with no flood insurance. All area school systems and universities and scores of other places of work and business are closed tomorrow, and at least one county has already closed its schools for Wednesday. There are countless shelters around north Georgia, and at least one entire town of a few hundred evacuated amid fears for a local levee.
Folks, it's really unbelievable down here. You can see some photos here.
We're almost out of the woods, with steadily dryer forecasts as this week wears on, but there's at least one more band of heavy rain due to come through any minute now.
Atlanta's gonna need some vibes to bounce back from this.

Rolvix · Post by **Rolvix** » September 21st, 2009, 10:00 pm

Definitely sending some vibes. I had no idea it was that bad!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

DukieInKansas · Post by **DukieInKansas** » September 21st, 2009, 10:04 pm

Vibes from Kansas. It is amazing the damage water can cause. I hope dryer weather comes soon.

Post by **wilson** » September 21st, 2009, 10:07 pm

FWIW, Photo #4 on the page I linked above is right around the corner from EarlJam's place.

Devil in the Blue Dress · Post by **Devil in the Blue Dress** » September 21st, 2009, 10:09 pm

Seems as if extremes keep happening there, first a severe drought and now floods.

What is the situation near where you live, Wilson?

Post by **wilson** » September 21st, 2009, 10:14 pm

Devil in the Blue Dress wrote:Seems as if extremes keep happening there, first a severe drought and now floods.

Indeed. When it (finally) rains, it pours. God, that's terribly appropriate gallows humor.

Devil in the Blue Dress wrote:What is the situation near where you live, Wilson?

Luckily, we're pretty good at Mom's. The house is up on a hill, about 30 vertical feet above street level. The only worry is of potential falling trees due to softened soil. The lot is heavily wooded, and there are scores of trees down all over town. Seems like we're gonna pull through OK, though. Lots of people have lost power, gas, and/or running water (oh, the irony). We've maintained all three throughout the inundation, save a short interlude without power on Saturday afternoon. I've been largely oblivious to it all; in fact, I've found the rainy weather to be quite good for whiling the days away buried in books.
As I said above, though, the city (and indeed, pretty much the whole northern half of the state) has really been smacked.

Post by **wilson** » September 22nd, 2009, 12:31 am

A sixth person is confirmed dead in the Atlanta area.
Additional interstate closures at this moment.
Looks like another adventure of a rush hour in the morning.
Hopefully we'll recede to normal shortly thereafter.

Lavabe · Post by **Lavabe** » September 22nd, 2009, 12:47 am

ILJ was scheduled to drive down to work in Atlanta on Wednesday, but I doubt sincerely that she could make it down there.

Has Emory closed down Tuesday? From the web site, it looks as if it is still up and running.

Best of luck down there!!

Post by **wilson** » September 22nd, 2009, 12:49 am

Lavabe wrote:ILJ was scheduled to drive down to work in Atlanta on Wednesday, but I doubt sincerely that she could make it down there.

Has Emory closed down Tuesday? From the web site, it looks as if it is still up and running.

Best of luck down there!!

Emory's open tomorrow. Good thing, because I'm out of books (again). Getting across town and back will not be fun, but then I'll just hunker down again.

CathyCA · Post by **CathyCA** » September 22nd, 2009, 7:30 am

I hope you can stay warm and dry inside, Wilson!

throatybeard · Post by **throatybeard** » September 22nd, 2009, 8:18 am

My MIL is the retired director of the Red Cross in Troup County, and she's heading up to Carroll to do something with a shelter. I suppose GA hasn't seen flooding like this since Alberto. (The 1994 one; I've always been surprised they didn't retire the name. Even though it was "just" a TS.

bjornolf · Post by **bjornolf** » September 22nd, 2009, 8:29 am

That's just terrible. My heart broke this morning when they showed the picture of the two year old boy on the news. I couldn't help but think of my own kids. All my prayers and vibes to you and everyone down there going through this.

CameronBornAndBred · Post by **CameronBornAndBred** » September 22nd, 2009, 8:46 am

While most of the deaths are tragic..there is this one.

At least two people were missing, including a Tennessee man who went swimming in an overflowing ditch on a $5 dare.

Instantly brings to mind the joke ------- What are a redneck's last words? -- "Watch this."

windsor · Post by **windsor** » September 22nd, 2009, 9:33 am

CameronBornAndBred wrote:While most of the deaths are tragic..there is this one.
At least two people were missing, including a Tennessee man who went swimming in an overflowing ditch on a $5 dare.
Instantly brings to mind the joke ------- What are a redneck's last words? -- "Watch this."

I thought it was 'Hey Y'all...watch this....'

Seriously - stay safe and dry Atlantans!

Post by **wilson** » September 22nd, 2009, 9:45 am

It's gray again this morning, but not raining. The overnight rain they forecast seems to have passed mostly to the south of the city proper. With all the schools closed today, traffic oughtta really be eased.
The confirmed death toll is now up to seven, the latest a teenage boy in the northeastern part of the state.
We've still got segments of interstate closed, and the Chattahoochee is way above flood stage.
The waters should begin to subside today, but there's a big cell of storms stretching from Mississippi back into Texas right now.
Keep on vibin', folks.

DukeUsul · Post by **DukeUsul** » September 22nd, 2009, 9:46 am

CNN had an iReport photo of Six Flags with the frickin roller coasters under water. It's right next to the Chattahoochee.

windsor · Post by **windsor** » September 22nd, 2009, 9:53 am

I'm vibing for clear skies and dry air!

cl15876 · Post by **cl15876** » September 22nd, 2009, 11:23 am

windsor wrote:I'm vibing for clear skies and dry air!

I'll second that!!!! Sending vibes and prayers for clearer skies and dryer weather!!!!!

BTW - I've often wondered in situations like this, what happens to the fish or other creatures that venture out into the swells over the flooded areas and why there aren't more/any visual reports and/or pictures of the bounties that are left behind when the water goes down???

CameronBornAndBred · Post by **CameronBornAndBred** » September 22nd, 2009, 4:25 pm

In the "no shit, Sherlock" department, this was a headline at CNN.

Post by **wilson** » September 22nd, 2009, 4:27 pm

Well, the sun's been shining very nicely since about 10:30 this morning...a very welcome sight (and a popular topic of conversation). Forecasts call for 30-40% chances of rain from tomorrow through Sunday. Hopefully we can weather (heh) that; presumably, we'll get some rain off and on, but not the steady, driving stuff we had for the past week.

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