Flash flooding: Neighborhood under water, trees down, I-285 snarled by clogged drains
Heavy rain rolled across the metro Atlanta area on Tuesday evening, leading to flooding and storm damage in multiple cities.
Emergency crews were busy responding to multiple incidents after multiple flash flood warnings were issued. Those warnings have since been allowed to expire.
Smyrna cul-de-sac under water
As the heavy rain poured down in Cobb County, firefighters worked to safely evacuate 12 residents from five multifamily homes in the cul-de-sac of Coopers Creek Circle in Smyrna. Nineteen people are being assisted by the American Red Cross.
Shortly before 7 p.m., the deluge swamped cars and trucks parked on the street and even those vehicles parked in their own driveways.
"I’m concerned because they can’t go home. So, then, where do you go? The water is up above some of the cars. So, you just have people sitting around in their cars wondering when they can get home," said 20-year-old resident Tamara Bennett.
Within an hour, the waters were slowly receding.
Behind the neighborhood is Cooper Creek, which begins about a mile northeast. The creek converges just southwest with a creek formed by the runoff from Laurel Lake, and continues southwest for less than a mile, converging just past the train tracks with Nickajack Creek.
Residents tell FOX 5 this has become a habitual occurrence when it rains.
"We’ve had minor flooding … I’ve never seen anything like this flooding people out of their homes," said Bennett. "Because when it rains, it does flow down hill into Coopers Creek."
Fallen tree traps man in Atlanta home
The Atlanta Fire and Rescue Department is investigating an entrapment on North Avenue NW where a tree fell on top of a house.
The man inside was bound to a wheelchair and required rescue.
"And he was trapped in the house when I got here. The whole house was just demolished. The tree had fallen from behind, from the back, and sat on top of the house. The whole house is just flattened now. He had to be rushed to the emergency room," the man's roommate told FOX 5.
Grady paramedics also reported to the scene and confirmed the victim was alert, conscious and breathing.
Dunwoody roadways flooded
Flash flood in Dunwoody. (Credit: City of Dunwoody, Facebook)
A crew is being sent out to inspect the roadways in Dunwoody where some flooding has already been reported.
Storm drains need clearing on Old Spring House Lane.
Tree down on Dunwoody power lines
A large tree fell on power lines on N. Peachtree Road at Sandell Drive in Dunwoody.
Traffic in the area was rerouted while crews worked to clear the area.
Georgia Power and Dunwoody Public Works worked to remedy the situation.
Flooding on I-285 at Georgia 400
Flooding on I-285 at the Eastbound exit to GA-400 on July 23, 2024.
Cars were at a standstill at an eastbound exit on Interstate 285 where flooding had all lanes of traffic backed up.
Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) cameras at the Georgia 400 exit showed emergency vehicles blocking motorists on Tuesday evening as heavy rainwater pooled in the roadway. The Sandy Springs Police Department confirmed drains in the area were clogged.
While no injuries had been reported, police said four trees were also downed.
By 8 p.m., the eastbound lanes appeared to be reopened with free-flowing traffic. One car remained on the side of the road. By 10 p.m., traffic in the area returned to normal.
Fallen trees across metro Atlanta
FOX 5 cameras saw power and fire crews working to clear fallen trees around the metro Atlanta area after Tuesday night's storms.
In DeKalb County, crews blocked off Fairlane Drive shortly after midnight to clear off brush that had taken down a power line.
In another part of the country, a massive branch left people without power overnight on Treadway Drive.
Flash flood warning for metro Atlanta
A Flash Flood Warning was issued for southern Cobb County including Atlanta, Marietta, Sandy Springs, Smyrna, Vinings and Mableton a little after 7 p.m. Tuesday. A similar warning was issued for northwestern DeKalb County, east central Fulton County, and northern Gwinnett County.
Originally, the warning was set to expire by 10 p.m., but was extended for another hour and a half due to the continued rain threat.
At the time, FOX 5 Live VIPIR indicated between 1.5 and 2.5 inches of rain fell in the area.
FOX 5 Storm Team chief meteorologist David Chandley says, when it was all done, up to three inches of rain were reported in some portions of the warned area.
All warnings were allowed to expire by the end of Tuesday.
Braves rained out at Truist Park
The heavy rains also forced the Atlanta Braves to force a split doubleheader for the second time in a week. The Braves, who are in a 4-game slump, were supposed to play game 2 of a 3-game series against the Cincinnati Reds at Truist Park. The first pitch was scheduled for about the same time the sky opened up.
Tickets for Tuesday night’s game will be valid for the 6:05 p.m. game on Wednesday evening.
The Braves were supposed to wrap up their series with the Reds at 12:20 p.m. Wednesday before hitting the road to New York to play the Mets.
Separate tickets are required for each game and the gates will close in between each for cleaning.