By Terri L. Turner, AICP
The first event, under Declaration DR-880, occurred on October 12,
1990, when, as a result of the convergence of the remnants of both
Tropical Storm Marco and Hurricane Klaus (then downgraded to a tropical
storm, as well), Augusta experienced some of the worst flooding in its
recent history as 15 inches of rain fell during a 100-year-plus storm
event causing more than $150 million in property damage. At one point,
2.79 inches of rain fell in approximately one hour, causing widespread
flooding, roads flooding to a depth where people had to be rescued from
their vehicles, and evacuation of numerous homes.
Another event that same month had localized rainfall exceeding 8.5 inches, producing flooding characterized as a 100-year event.
August 1992 was marked by an intense rain event that caused localized
flooding of a number of roads and “rapid local flooding” of several
homes. Evacuations of residents occurred in Hollywood Subdivision along
Rocky Creek.
In August 1994, the Weather Bureau reported 4.2 inches in a 24-hour period.
The Rocky Creek/Hollywood Subdivision area continued to be plagued by
flooding when 3.75 inches of rain, characterized as a 10-year storm
event, fell in September 1995, causing traffic accidents along major
transportation routes near Rocky Creek and evacuation of 12 families in
the Hollywood Subdivision.
Rainfall from 2 to 4 inches in a six-to-nine hour period in March
1996 caused several streams to flood beyond their banks and into homes,
including those in Hollywood Subdivision. The flash flooding experienced
during that storm event closed several major highways, which were
virtually underwater.
Flash flooding in December 1997 caused several highways to be flooded
by nearby creeks. The flooded roads included the highly traveled
Richmond Hill Road.
March 8, 1998, found Rae’s Creek flooding low-lying areas, although
no homes were reported to have flooded. A subsequent storm on March 11
resulted in DR 1209, as more than 3 inches of rain fell on already
saturated ground and caused major road and residential flooding in the
Rocky Creek area.
March was not to provide the only major storm event for 1998.
September delivered 8.5 inches of rain from Tropical Storm Earl over a
14-hour period, causing flash flooding along several streams. About 50
people were evacuated from two subdivisions, several streets were closed
due to flooding, and one shelter was opened to house 82 people.
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