Hurricane Joaquin has moved up the Eastern Seaboard but the effects of the Category 4 hurricane and the upper-level low-pressure storm system that followed are still being felt in Georgia-Carolina. The steady deluge left streets submerged in Charleston, SC and thousands without power here at home. The National Weather Service says rain will continue Sunday as tropical moisture continues to wrap westward from the Atlantic Coast into the Southern Appalachians. Precipitation will gradually diminish overnight.
The Greenville-Spartanburg Airport in South Carolina recorded 2.3 inches of rain Saturday, smashing the previous record of 0.77 inches set in 1961, according to John Tomko, National Weather Service meteorologist at Greenville-Spartanburg.
A flash flood watch and wind advisory for Habersham County and other parts of Northeast Georgia and the Western Carolinas remain in effect until 8am Monday.
Weather related deaths
The severe weather is being blamed for at least five deaths in the Carolinas. According to national news reports, three people died Friday and Saturday in traffic incidents in South Carolina and a drowning Thursday in Spartanburg also was linked to the storm. Near Fayetteville, North Carolina, high winds toppled a tree that hit a vehicle and killed a passenger on Interstate 95.
RELATED: Thousands Without Power in NEGA
Downed trees and power lines have been a persistent problem across much of Northeast Georgia keeping public safety, transportation and utility crews busy since early Sunday morning.
There have been no reports of any injuries in Habersham County but there have been plenty of roads blocked by trees uprooted by the heavy wind and rain. Highway 197 North in Clarkesville was hit especially hard. A tree fell near the entrance to Bethlehem Baptist Church around 8am Sunday and another blocked the highway farther up just past Alleys Chapel Road where it took crews more than an hour to remove it from the power lines.
Dawn Lovell of Lake Burton was on her way to church when she drove up on the scene near Alleys Chapel around 9:45 Sunday morning. Now Habersham spoke with her as she waited on crews to clear the road. She described her drive in from the lake. “There are just trees down everywhere — everything’s clear — but just a lot of debris on the roads from the rain and the wind. So far, everybody’s okay. Everybody’s just inconvenienced.”
Inconvenienced but understanding. Lovell had nothing but praise for those working out in the rain. “The crews are doing a great job!,” she said.
Georgia Department of Transportation Assistant Foreman for Habersham County Don Welborn was among the many workers assessing damage and clearing debris Sunday. He warns the rain-soaked trees are heavy because of their foliage and the ground, saturated by days of relentless rain, make them dangerously prone to falling. Welborn stresses “people just need to be aware” of the potential dangers.
RELATED: Power Could Be Out For Several Days
Traffic was blocked by downed trees on the south end of Habersham, too, including Wynn Lake Road and Wilbanks Road in Alto and Level Grove and Paradise Park Roads in Cornelia (see photos below). There were downed power lines across Highway 105 and, in Cleveland, a tree was blown down on Highway 255 South near Highway 115 East, shutting down that road early Sunday morning.
Sarah Thompson Herold of Cleveland got a rude awakening when a tree toppled onto her vehicle and house. In a post on the Now Habersham Facebook page she said:
“We are fine, roof is beat up but still intact.”
Dry out begins
The torrential rain that’s marked most of the past week slowed Sunday afternoon and the National Weather Service says the chance for rain will continue to diminish on into Monday. The forecast calls for sunshine to return to Habersham County and Northeast Georgia by Tuesday.
In the meantime, officials urge you to use extreme caution while traveling. Watch out for utility crews and public safety officials and, if you see downed trees blocking roads or downed power lines, call 9-1-1.
Storm’s Aftermath
October 4, 2015
Click photos to enlarge
