Effects
Hundreds of people were rescued by boat from their homes,and at least ten people died,mostly in their cars by driving where water crossed the road,which motorists were repeatedly warned against on local radio and TV. The American Red Cross started emergency shelters in each county affected by the floods. Most Atlanta area school districts were closed September 21 due to floodwaters and road closures which made school bus routes longer and more dangerous.
Chattahoochee River
The Chattahoochee rose to the highest levels since the Buford Dam was built. Water levels along the river rose over the 0.2 percent chance exceedence (500-year) flood at the gage location. [2] The River reached its second-highest level ever in Vinings at Paces Ferry Road,and would have surpassed its 1916 record were it not for the impoundment built in the 1950s. Along the river in both Vinings and Roswell,a one percent chance exceedence (100-year flood) level was measured. [2]
Peachtree Creek,a tributary of the Chattahoochee,topped its stream gauge and the bridge itself at Northside Drive,but remained just below its 1916 record. However,Nancy Creek–another Chattahoochee River tributary–did reach a record level,destroying the Peachtree-Dunwoody Road bridge (which would reopen on March 23,2010).
The western side of the Interstate 285 beltway crosses the Chattahoochee River. This section of the interstate was completely underwater for several days. Many of the roller coasters and rides at Six Flags Over Georgia were partly underwater,with at least 80% of Great American Scream Machine submerged by the Chattahoochee River.
Located along the Chattahoochee River in west Atlanta,the R.M. Clayton sewage treatment plant,the largest in the Southeastern U.S.,was swamped with four feet of water as the river rose by twelve additional feet. Millions of gallons of untreated sewage were released into the rising waters. [4] Other plants in Cobb and Gwinnett counties experienced similar spills. [5] A Kellogg Company food plant,also located near the Chattahoochee,was flooded,resulting in the closure of the plant and a subsequent national shortage of frozen waffles. [6]
Lake Lanier and Lake Allatoona
Lake Lanier rose quickly,while Lake Allatoona soared to more than ten feet or three meters over full pool,using its flood reserve capacity for the first time after years of the 2006–2009 Southeastern U.S. drought. Lake Allatoona reached its highest level since 1990.
Sweetwater Creek
On Monday,September 21,Sweetwater Creek rose to its highest level ever recorded. On September 22,The United States Geological Survey measured the greatest flow ever recorded on Sweetwater Creek,at 28,000 cubic feet per second (790 m3/s). [2] The flooding from the creek was met with water from the swollen Chattahoochee River,which blocked Interstate 20 west of Atlanta for two days. Many homes and businesses in the area were completely submerged.
Cherokee County
Interstate 575 was heavily blocked by Noonday Creek,which also blocked several other roads including Georgia State Route 92. The Little River also caused major problems in the same area,blocking the original parallel route of Georgia 5 (which was replaced by I-575 in the 1980s),and Arnold Mill Road,north and east of Woodstock. Commuters trying to get back home to Cherokee county found it took hours due to the numerous road closures and unmarked detours,extending the September 21,2009 rush hour until after 9:00pm as people sat in gridlocked traffic.
Cobb County
Kennesaw State University in Cobb County received significant flooding on several parts of campus including the east parking deck. Several buildings and dormitories along Campus Loop Drive were flooded from a nearby creek and lake. Water rushing into the Social Science building reportedly rose up to the bottom of the hand-rail of the first floor stairs. Classes were cancelled at 1:00pm on Monday,September 21 for the remainder of the day and again on September 22 and 23 while damage was assessed and clean-up began. [7]
Pope High School was surrounded by water,which receded in time to let the students leave. Clarkdale Elementary School was flooded to the roof. Students were evacuated early September 21,while waters were ankle-deep. The Cobb County School District,wary of rising waters,let middle school students leave before elementary and high schools. Though because of heavy rainfall in Legacy Park subdivision,3 buses had to return to Awtrey Middle School. Powder Springs Park and parts of Brownsville Road were completely submerged by floodwaters.
City of Atlanta
Inside the city limits of Atlanta,several neighborhoods were underwater,including Peachtree Hills. The Downtown Connector,a section where Interstate 75 and Interstate 85 run concurrent with each other and one of Georgia's busiest expressways,was submerged by the floodwaters. Several cars were swept into the water before police could redirect traffic.
