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Dozens of people rescued from floodwaters in Atlanta
Dozens of people had to be rescued overnight during the storm generated by Hurricane Helene. Aungelique Proctor reporting.
ATLANTA - Heavy rainfall overnight led to significant flooding in parts of Georgia, with Peachtree Creek and Nancy Creek overflowing in Atlanta, prompting swift water rescues and concerns among local residents.
Firefighters were busy all morning bringing folks in the flood zones to safety.
Peachtree Creek floods
Hanover West Drive, a street lined with homes near the creek, became a focal point of the flooding. By morning, water had risen to the height of mailboxes, and a car was stalled in front of a house, unable to move through the flooded street.
Two families in the area were rescued after calling for help as the waters continued to rise. Atlanta Fire & Rescue crews, including swift water rescue teams, arrived around 10 a.m. and safely evacuated the families without any injuries.
"I had some residents that wanted to be removed because they didn't feel safe," said a firefighter on the scene. "If the waters were going to rise anymore, they were worried they wouldn't be able to get out, especially with children involved."
While no major injuries were reported, homeowners in the area confirmed that many homes had flooded basements. Officials are urging residents to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary, citing dangerous conditions.
"We are on the high side of the street, but we still have four inches of water in our basement, and it is just not coming from the creek, but it is pumping up from under the ground," said homeowner Stacy Quiros.
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Nancy Creek overflows
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Helene flooding: Crew busy working to rescue residents
Helene dumped tons of water across metro Atlanta, causing waterways to overflow, flooding homes and neighborhoods. A look at the rescues efforts.
As the sun rose Friday morning, so did floodwaters near Nancy Creek. FOX 5 watched a family and two of their pets being rescued on Bohler Road.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said all of these rescues occurred without incident.
"Overnight, we did experience some individuals that were stranded in the vehicles, and we have had swift recovery by Atlanta Fire Rescue Department to be able to rescue about 20 rescues and save people with boats and some were in their apartments or homes. We have rescued pets and entire families," the mayor detailed.
The city’s joint operations center was active with all city and county agencies working together. Seventeen-hundred crews were out restoring power, and employees were checking on senior citizens. The city also is providing shelters for the unhoused.
The mayor says if you have a tree down or need any time of assistance, call 311.
First Flash Flood Emergency in Atlanta
Atlanta received a record 11.12 inches of rain in 48 hours, the most the city has seen in a two-day period since record keeping began in 1878, Georgia’s Office of the State Climatologist said on the social platform X. The previous mark of 9.59 inches was set in 1886. The National Weather Service says this was the first Flash Flood Emergency issued in the metro Atlanta area.
Neighbors, however, remained supportive, with many checking on each other as they walked their dogs and monitored the situation. Some residents recalled past flooding incidents, including major floods in 1919, 2004, and 2009, and expressed relief that everyone appeared to be safe.
The Associated Press contributed to this report