What started as a stormy Friday night in Cobb County turned into a full-on scramble, as sudden flash floods sent firefighters racing to pull stranded people from rising water near Powers Ferry Road and Columns Drive.
Rushing floodwater swept across the Chattahoochee corridor, lifting cars off the pavement and pushing water into low-lying homes. Crews moved from call to call looking for trapped drivers and homeowners, while officials warned that more storms on the way could keep conditions dangerous.
As reported by FOX 5 Atlanta, members of Cobb County Fire's technical rescue team, including personnel from Station 7 and Station 12, pulled 17 people to safety during the surge. "The most dangerous part in swiftwater tech is entering the water to swim somebody down and pull them back to shore to safety," rescue trainer Jeremiah Lewis told FOX 5 Atlanta.
Where Crews Worked
The technical rescue team zeroed in on the Powers Ferry corridor and Columns Drive, where high water trapped vehicles and flooded nearby homes. Lt. Michael Barnett described cars "floating at the bad curve on Powers Ferry" and said several houses were affected, according to FOX 5 Atlanta.
Weather Alerts
The National Weather Service in Peachtree City issued flash flood warnings for parts of north central Georgia Friday evening, citing radar indicated heavy rainfall and the likelihood of creek and urban flooding. The bulletin included the standard "Turn around, don't drown" warning and urged drivers to avoid flooded roadways, as shown by the National Weather Service.
Deadly Reminder
The rescues came on the heels of a separate water tragedy earlier in the week, when authorities recovered a body from Noonday Creek after a swimmer failed to resurface, the Cobb County Courier reported. Local officials say that incident is a stark reminder of how quickly streams and creeks can turn deadly after heavy rain.
Firefighters say they will keep training and pre positioning resources as more storms move in, and they repeated the basic safety rule: avoid entering floodwater and never drive through high water. The National Weather Service "Turn Around, Don't Drown" guidance remains the best step residents can take during flash flooding.
