Residents in Catoosa County faced tumultuous conditions as over a hundred people were prompted to evacuate amidst significant flooding late Tuesday. According to officials, the deluge was caused by severe storms that rapidly dumped several inches of rain, leading to widespread water inundation. NewsChannel 9 reported that swift water rescue teams were deployed, rescuing approximately 115 individuals from two primarily affected apartment complexes in Fort Oglethorpe.
At The Crossings apartments on Fant Drive, about 80 residents contended with waist-high water, while another 35 were extracted from the Fountain Brooks apartments on Cross Street as rising waters surged. Ashley Ozanto and her wife, who lived at one of the affected apartments, recounted to NewsChannel 9, "We were sitting watching tv when they heard loud knocking on their door." Upon opening it, they were met with floodwaters that swiftly rose to the top of their couch.
The evacuees found temporary refuge provided by Catoosa County Transit/Trans-Aid at Constitution Hall and the Westside Voting Precincts. Ensuing the initial displacement, the Northwest Georgia Red Cross extended support, offering overnight shelter at the Catoosa Training Center Rifle Range, managed by the Tennessee Army National Guard near Ringgold, as detailed by FOX 5 Atlanta. Additionally, D&A Liquidations contributed blankets, comforters, and pillows to those uprooted from The Crossings, based on information from Catoosa County Government.
Amid the chaos, Catoosa County Animal Control stepped in to ensure that pets were not forgotten, providing temporary housing at the local animal shelter. In the wake of the storm's peak, nearly 20 county roads were closed due to high water and debris, but crews are diligently working on clearing and reopening these passages as the floodwaters recede. The collaborative emergency response encompassed multiple agencies including the Catoosa County Emergency Management Agency, Puckett EMS, and the Fort Oglethorpe Police Department among others, FOX 5 Atlanta reported.
