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Barrow County has gotten considerable rain in recent days – as much as the double digits in some backyard rain gauges. But Barrow was spared serious flooding which struck some counties, including neighboring Gwinnett.
With the torrential storm moving into Barrow County Monday, Barrow County Emergency Services Chief and Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Director Mark Melvin made the decision shortly after 4 p.m. to activate the Emergency Operation Center (EOC).
"With the amount of rain that had fallen and the amount that was predicted to fall, it was important to get the Center open and operating to help manage all the flooding in Barrow County," said Chief Melvin. "Through the center, we were able to coordinate with all departments in Barrow and its cities to handle all emergencies that developed throughout the storm."
EMA Deputy Director Jimmy Terrell acted as the Emergency Operations Center Manager and Lyn Clement, Director of the Barrow County Community and County Development Department, was also at the EOC and going out to assist as needed.
One of the first actions taken was the deployment of assessment teams. These teams responded around the county to monitor watersheds, creeks and rivers.
According to Director of Storm Water Management Shannon Young, there were 200 culverts affected by the storm.
Six roads were closed periodically throughout Barrow County with the largest flooding happening in the Wages Road area in Auburn.
Upon request of the EOC, Auburn Police Department and the Auburn Public Works responded quickly to assist in shutting down the road and assessing damages. Two locations on Tanglewood Road had collapsed as well as a site along Blackstock Road. At Blackstock Road. At Blackstock and Cronictown roads, a washout prompted the road closure.In Tanglewood Subdivision, the road department conducted major temporary repairs so residents could get in and out. Eight homes, representing about 30 people, were impacted by the situation.
Barrow County Commission Chairman Danny Yearwood also responded to the scene to check on the progress being made.
Also in Auburn, two driveways in the Willow Gate subdivision also collapsed as a result of the flooding.
Also assisting in the EOC was Roads and Bridges Supervisor Tim McKeen, who deployed crews from Roads and Bridges as needed.
Coordinating the response of fire and medical crews was Deputy Chief Russell Wise.
"Having this coordination of all involved was crucial in minimizing the affects of the flooding," said Chief Melvin.
Reported to the EOC and Communication Officers through 911 was a total of 12 families affected by flooding. There were no reports of power or water outages or natural gas leaks. Although no shelter was opened, the EOC was in close contact with the American Red Cross in case the need arose. No reports of injuries resulted.
Barrow County Fires & Emergency Services conducted one high water transport after a couple attending the Monday budget hearing returned home to find their driveway impassable.
Assessment teams were deployed again Tuesday morning to assess water levels. With the rain leaving, area water levels were receding.
"The EOC and all departments involved worked well in controlling damages caused by the flooding," said Chief Melvin. "Now we will continue to monitor the situation over the next several days in the event another storm comes through Barrow County."
In Winder, two trees and a limb fell during the heavy rain and some minor flooding was reported on Lake Drive, May Street and Stephens Street. The underpass was closed to traffic because of high water.
"With the work that Public Works Director Ken Chalker and his crew had done at the beginning of the year with cleaning out storm drains and replacing pipe, we had minimal flooding," said Winder City Clerk Sabrina Wall.
"We were very fortunate," said Winder Fire Chief Ray Mattison, whose department received only one downed tree call and one medical emergency during all the rain period.
Barrow County was fortunate. It was not among the 17 counties covered by Gov. Sonny Perdue’s declaration of a state of emergency. Neighboring Gwinnett was among those counties affected by heavy rain and severe weather since Sept. 18.
The death toll related to the flooding was at seven, including a woman driver killed when she tried to drive through standing water in Gwinnett County. The vehicle was swept away.
In Carroll County, a toddler was pulled from his mother’s arms as the family’s mobile home was swept into a creek. The body of 2-year-old was later recovered.
