Storms, Rain Turn Deadly In Georgia, Areas Of The Southeast

Austell, GA—Latisha Brogdon, rescued homeowner: “We couldn’t get our car down the road. There was really no way we could even try to walk out. We had water all around the house, so we really had to be rescued.“

The death toll in the Southeast now stands at eight, after the body of a 15-year-old boy was discovered in the Chattooga River, Tuesday morning. Also, in Douglas County, west of Atlanta, a 2-year-old was swept away from his family when a creek ripped open their mobile home.

Governor Sonny Perdue, (R) GA: “Stuff is important, but not as important as your life. I just plead with you to give the water time to recede.“

The damage and the dangers are widespread, after a straight week of rain dumped several inches in at least 5 states, including Tennessee and North Carolina. Hundreds of schools are closed, but at Clarksdale Elementary, in Georgia, it’s one day too late after students and teachers had to flee knee deep water.

Morther: “And the schools should have been closed…horrible for these children.“

Even those whose homes are safe are feeling the impact. Sections of Interstates 20, 285 and 575, around Atlanta, are all shut down due to the floodwaters.

Sheriff Terry Langley, Carroll County Sheriff’s Department: “We have had our turn with tornados, but this is something new to us, this water devastation is unbelievable.

T.J. Winick, reporting: “Here in the Atlanta area, there is a flash flood watch in effect until 8:00 p.m., and though there will be areas of heavy rain, the good news…there is less rain forecast for today than in the past week.“