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Damage from Dennis less than officials first feared

By LEE WILLIAMS
lwilliams@TheCitizenNews.com

Some might surmise since the damage estimate left in the wake of Hurricane Dennis was only a half-million dollars and climbing, that Fayette County dodged a bullet where Sunday’s storm is concerned.

But from the vantage point of residents in the western portion of Fayette County, many might have a differing view.

As weather officials predicted, heavy rains pounded the area Sunday as Hurricane Dennis rolled into Fayette County.

Dozens of residents in Tyrone and Peachtree City opened their doors Monday morning to find tropical-quantity rains had spawned massive flooding that transformed their driveways into mini-lakes and streams. Some, like Thomas Moore of Ga. Highway 92 North in Fayetteville, were literally trapped inside of their homes.

The 73-year-old said his flooded driveway prevented him from receiving his dialysis appointment on Monday. He had to wait until he received assistance from the Georgia Department of Transportation before he could leave his home, he said.

DOT arrived later Monday to assist him. So, he would simply go to the clinic on Tuesday, he said.

Fayette County Emergency Management Agency Coordinator Capt. Pete Nelms spent all of Monday surveying the damage left from the storm. His assessment: “There was little wind damage, but we did have a significant amount of rainfall, which caused significant flooding.”

Fayette County received eight inches of rainfall between Saturday and Monday, according to National Weather Service officials in Peachtree City.

The rain rendered numerous roads impassable and it wreaked havoc on two dams including one in the Lakemont subdivision and on Lee’s Lake Road, both of which are dangerously close to failing, Nelms indicated.

The most dramatic event, Nelms said, happened on Mann Road, Trickum Creek and Bohannon Road in Tyrone. A woman attempted to drive through flood waters that had overflowed a bridge, but was unable to pass.

An unknown resident came to her rescue and pulled her out of the sunroof of her car. The woman survived, however, Nelms urged motorists to learn from the incident.

“Do not drive in standing water, particularly if the [areas] are barricaded,” Nelms said. “Avoid swollen streams and lakes because they pose a hazard. Swiftly running water poses a hazard as we have tragically seen in Peachtree City.”

Nelms referred to an 18-year-old Danen Clarke of Peachtree City who died in flood waters July 6.

Overall, Hurricane Dennis didn’t pack as hard of a punch as its predecessor Tropical Storm Cindy, which caused $2.5 million in damage from winds and water. The power outages were not as widespread this time, Nelms indicated.

But that’s of little consequence to Nelms especially since it’s just the beginning of the storm and hurricane season. Hurricane season lasts from now to Nov. 30. Nelms is now keeping his eye on Hurricane Emily, which is making its way towards the U.S.