photo by Taylor Seay

THE FLINT RIVER on Thursday as large amounts of rain have caused the river level to rise. Overnight, the river rose above its 25 foot flood stage and was measured at 25.7 meet on Friday morning.

Flood/weather update 4/3

By Brennan Leathers (Contact), | Post-SearchlightTaylor Seay (Contact) | Post-Searchlight

Published Friday, April 3, 2009

The Flint River at Bainbridge is still under a flood warning from the National Weather Service out of Tallahassee, Fla., as the river has risen above its 25-foot flood stage. Heavy rainfall on Thursday and over the past week has caused minor flash flooding on many streets and roads throughout Decatur County. Decatur County schools as well as Bainbridge College and Grace Christian Academy will be closed today, April 3.

Local emergency officials are advising people who live along the Flint River of imminent moderate flooding this weekend.

The Flint River at Bainbridge has breached its flood stage of 25 feet and was measured at 25.89 feet as of 11:45 a.m. on Friday morning. The river is expected to continue rising and crest at 31.3 feet by 8 p.m. Sunday, according to the Southeast River Forecast Center in Peachtree City, Ga.

Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service: Tallahassee: Flint River at Bainbridge

If the Flint River does reach 31 feet, it will surpass the most recent significant flood level, reached at 29.4 feet on April 1, 2005. That flood affected houses in the Flint River Heights, River View and River Vale subdivisions north of Bainbridge. Residents in the three neighborhoods were being notified Friday of the forecast for flooding and its potential to wash out roads, said Bainbridge City Manager Chris Hobby and Decatur County Emergency Management Agency Director Charlie McCann.

No mandatory evacuations were being conducted as of Friday. The Post-Searchlight’s Web site, www.thepostsearchlight.com will be updated as conditions change.

The Spring Creek, as measured near Iron City, was at 20 feet as of Friday morning. It is expected to crest Friday evening at 20.12 feet. On the evening of March 30, Spring Creek reached its peak at 20.78 feet. Thursday and was rising.

City workers and local law enforcement officers worked diligently on Thursday to ensure motorists safety as Bainbridge and Decatur County were hit by another severe thunderstorm. Five strong storms have brought damaging winds and large amounts of rain have passed through Southwest Georgia over the past week as grounds have become saturated with rainwater.

Closures and cancelations:

• Decatur County schools will have a normal dismissal on Thursday, however schools will be closed on Friday, April 3, according to the office of School Superintendent Ralph Jones. Grace Christian Academy will also be closed on Friday, April 3.

• Due to the weather, Grace Christian Academy has rescheduled "The Finer Things" presentation, originally planned for Thursday evening, for Friday, April 17th at 7PM.

• Bainbridge College will be closed today, April 3.

Bainbridge Public Safety and Decatur County Road Department reported the following road closures:

• Decatur County - SR 309 - MP 12.5 to 13.0 - CLOSED

• Decatur County - SR 262 South - from Mile Post 20 to 21 - CLOSED

• U.S. 84 East near the Decatur/Grady county line has reopened as of 9:40 PM Thursday

• Georgia Highway 262 from Open Pond Road to Georgia 309 North

• Bethel Road from Brinson Airbase to Old Eldorendo Road

• Adam Powell Road from Campbell to Lane Powell

• King Street

• S. Monroe Street, from Shotwell to Evans streets

• The on-ramp to the U.S. 84/27 bypass at West Street

• Batten Road closed from Robert Stephens to work camp

• Frank Brown Road closed from Seven Bridges to Jinks Crossing

• Pecan Street closed from address 209 to 202

• Cedar Grove Road closed from address 432 to 538

• Nebo Church Road

• Spooner Road closed from address 427 to the intersection of Bettstown Road

• Scott Road closed from Pinegrove Road to Josey Lane

• Rock Pond Road closed from Brock Cemetery to Eddie Avery Road

• Big Slough Landing

• Covey Rise

• Priest Road, from Georgia 309 to Baxley Road

• Cedar Grove Road

State working to aid affected areas

Governor Sonny Perdue announced today the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) elevated its State Operations Center (SOC) to a Level 2 partial activation on Thursday in response to flooding caused by very heavy rainfall last weekend, overnight and today in parts of south Georgia.

“Some areas of Southwest Georgia have received as much as nine inches of rain within the last week and are expecting even more this week,” Governor Perdue said. “The state is already providing needed assistance to Georgians impacted by the severe weather and stands ready to meet additional needs that will certainly arise with the coming rains.”

Governor Perdue issued an executive order on Monday declaring a state of emergency in six counties affected by heavy rain and severe weather that passed through Georgia on Friday and Saturday. The counties are Baker, Colquitt, Miller, Tift, Turner and Worth. State assistance was made available after a determination was made that the recovery efforts far exceeded existing local capabilities.