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Even though it had gone down by Friday morning, the Chattahoochee River was still high and flowing onto the sidewalk in front of the Troll Tavern. (Photo/Stephanie Hill)
Heavy rains throughout Thursday night and early Friday morning caused property-related troubles but reportedly no injuries in White County, even as crews conducted a river rescue.
County Public Safety Director David Murphy said responders were busy with multiple weather-related events during the period.
"Flash flooding caused flooded roadways, landslides and prompted calls for assistance near streams and the river due to high water," he said. "Units spent most of the evening and early morning hours responding to power lines down, trees down, roadway blocked, cabins and vehicles flooded and gas leaks due to overturned propane tanks. These events were widespread, and clean up continues throughout today in most areas."
There are reports of culverts, roadways, and infrastructure damaged due to flooding, and damaged assessments are underway, Murphy said.
Firefighters had to conduct a river rescue around 9:50 a.m. Friday, March 26, in the Buck Shoals area on the Chattahoochee River, according to a statement from White County Fire Chief Seth Weaver. Some people were going down the river, which was at a high water level following the rainfall. A victim called 911, and dispatchers were able to ping the phone through the enhanced 911 system.
"Units arrived on scene, and the caller was actually on the Habersham side of the river hanging on to a tree," Weaver said. "The victim advised that there was another person down river that was on the White County side. Habersham Fire was called to assist the victim on their side of the river, while firefighters and DNR (Georgia Department of Natural Resources) walked the river about one mile and found the second subject on the bank."
There were no injuries to the rescuers and victims, and units were at the scene for three and a half hours, Weaver said.