Parts of Northwest Georgia are under a state of emergency after torrential rains over the weekend caused severe flooding.
Governor Brian Kemp on Sunday issued the emergency declaration for Chattooga and Floyd Counties. Approximately 12 inches of rain fell on the region flooding homes and businesses and making roads impassable.
The National Weather Service says rivers are likely to continue to rise rapidly causing significant localized downstream flooding.
More video from yesterday’s flash flooding in Chattooga County. Even though water levels are slowly receding, a Flood Warning remains in effect for Chattooga and northern Floyd Counties until 930 AM EDT. https://t.co/5MchxyznY2
— NWS Atlanta (@NWSAtlanta) September 5, 2022
The emergency declaration frees up state resources to assist with recovery efforts. It orders the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency to activate its emergency operations plan.
The executive order also requires the state transportation and public safety departments to do what is necessary to move crews and equipment into the area to eliminate power outages. It also prohibits price gouging.
The rainfall in northwest Georgia on Sunday was so heavy, that CNN Weather estimates it was at least a one-in-200-year event.
As of early Monday, Floyd and Chattooga remained under a Flood Warning. North Georgia remains under a Flood Watch until 8 p.m. Monday, September 5.
