Crisp County Officials brace for flash floods

ALBANY, Ga. – Hurricane Sally made landfall as a category two hurricane in Alabama early Wednesday morning and Georgia is already feeling the effects.

“This storm for our area, the greatest danger really is the widespread flash flooding that we’re experiencing and the major to record river flooding that’s forecast to cross much of our rivers,” said a spokesperson with NWS Tallahassee Florida during a briefing posted to Youtube.

A flash flood watch has been issued for much of north and central Georgia through Friday. Cordele and Crisp County officials gathered to address any issues as the area braces itself for heavy rainfall and river flooding.

“We can still see 3, 5, 8, 10 inches of rain over the next 24 hours,” says Crisp County EMA Director and Sheriff Billy Hancock.

To help areas prone to flooding, Hancock suggests going out and clearing drains.

“That’s going to prevent some localized flooding in neighborhoods and ponding of water on roads.”

Sheriff Hancock says if anyone should encounter water on a roadway, to just turn around.

“When we say turn around, don’t drown you can’t check how deep water is, you can’t tell where the water has washed the road bed out and now you’re going into a deep hole that puts you in danger and puts the people that are required to rescue you in danger.”

In the past, parts of Cordele and crisp county had flash flooding that resulted in roads being blocked off, disappearing or just falling apart. Hancock says he feels confident the community is ready for anything.

“We always try to lean forward and we try to prepare for those things that affect our community and in that way we’re ready to respond to it, we’re not caught off guard.”