Flash Flood in White County, Georgia

The Georgia Emergency Management Agency, along with local newspapers, reported extensive and widespread flooding across White county. A six-year old girl, was swept away in flood waters, while outside in the front yard of her mobile home. The mobile home park was flooded by the waters from a nearby small stream. In unrelated incidents, three other residents had to be rescued from high water elsewhere in the county. Several roads were washed out. A 20-foot portion of Black Road was washed away by flood waters. The Chattahoochee River in Helen also rose above its flood stage of 6 feet and crested near 7 feet around 1130 pm EDT. The Castle Inn of Helen experienced flooding up to the patio level, which affects the basement area of the facility.

The White County Emergency Management Director reported significant flash flooding near and just south of Cleveland. The most significant incident occurred along a service road of U.S. Highway 129, approximately one mile south of Cleveland. Significant erosion, six to eight feet deep in spots, occurred in the area resulting in a pavement collapse. The collapsed pavement resulted in a sink hole causing damage to a car wash and adjacent Sonic Drive In restaurant along U.S. Highway 129. Most of the damage was in the form of collapsed awnings and damage to adjacent property at the drive in. In addition, Cox Creek overflowed its banks onto U.S. Highway 129 near Campbell Street with four feet of water and onto Quillian Street with two feet of water. Freeman Creek overflowed its banks onto Asbestos Road with one foot of water. A secondary stream that flows into Cox Creek overflowed its banks flooding Cementary Street and Wildord Ash Parkway with one foot of water. Portions of the Creekside Deli Parking Lot at Nachoochee Road and U.S. Highway 129 were also flooded.

A drainage branch into Mossy Creek flooded a parking lot behind a Fitness Center and Enterprise Rental Car Company near 1769 South U.S. Highway 129 south of Cleveland. The flood waters also washed out a culvert pipe and entered a construction company building and Express Mart at Shady Creek Plaza with a few inches of water. A few out buildings and sheds on Underwood Farm Road were also affected.||The Chattahoochee River just south of Helen flooded the pasture and fields of the natural flood plain off of Georgia Highway 17. A resident of the Nacoochee Valley Old Time Farm tried to evacuate her home and drove a Mini Cooper into 3 feet of water on the dirt driveway. The car stalled and she was rescued from her vehicle by White County emergency personnel.