'Turn around, don't drown!' Flooding washes out roads in north Georgia

NORTH GEORGIA — Flooding across north Georgia shut down dozens of roads Friday as more rain moved through and rivers and streams overflowed.

Severe Weather Team 2 Meteorologist Katie Walls was in Douglas County, where Mount Vernon Road shut down after 2 to 3 feet of water flowed over the roadway.

Emergency Management officials there warned drivers to turn around and find a different route.

Floyd County

Walls then headed to Floyd County, where at  least 39 roads were shut down while water in the Oostanaula River continued to rise. Floyd County Schools said the flooded roads caused issues for school buses Friday morning. Several buses were unable to go on their routes.

Officials were keeping an eye on water levels, because the 911 center and government buildings are just a few hundred yards from the shoreline.

Walls talked to Floyd County Emergency Management Director Tim Herrington, who said he hasn't seen the river this high in his entire 15 years -- at nearly 4.5 feet above flood stage and still rising.

Herrington expected more roads to close. He warned drivers never to try to go around barricades and high water signs.

It wasn't enough to keep one man from trying.  Emergency crews had to rescue the driver after he tried to go around flood barricades.

"They decided to drive through the flooded road, and as a result, the vehicle flooded out and they didn't make their appointment," Herrington said. "And they got a ticket for going around the signs!"

Walls spoke to Ken and Linda Wallace, who drove from Dallas to check out the flooding.

"This is just unreal and this is just the parking lot and it's underwater," Wallace said.

They at least knew better than to drive through flooded roadways.

"You're stupid to even take the chance, because the current just gets under the wheels and you've lost it," Wallace said.

Officials haven't issued any formal evacuations in Floyd County but are watching river levels closely.

Cobb County

In Cobb County, a winter break youth camp dismissed early because of a flood warning from nearby Sweetwater Creek. Pamela Dingle is the director of the camp at Legion Park in Austell, where the baseball fields and playground are underwater.

Channel 2's Chris Jose was there as concerned parents picked up their children.

Chenoa Reed said she was shocked at the scene.

"I was really surprised," Reed said. "I've never seen water that high before."

Dingle said asking parents to come early was out of an abundance of caution.

"We've been watching it very closely," Dingle told Jose. "As a matter of fact, we asked parents to get students early today, just in case, as a precaution."

Reed was concerned that the kids might be tempted to go into the water and had a warning for them.

"Be cautious and of course, it's not worth the risk," Reed said. "It looks like it's pretty dangerous. Pretty cool, but pretty dangerous."

A few miles down from Legion Park, Sweetwater Creek flowed out of its banks and spilled onto a horse farm on Perkerson Mill Road. That road was also shut down, forcing neighbors to find another way home.

Michael Berrios was worried the floodwaters might get to his house.

"It's not good," Berrios said. "Now it's not looking good. I didn't see it when I got in last night."

Berrios said if there's more rain, he may have no other choice but to evacuate.

"When it gets bad enough, I'm out," Berrios said.

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