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Sunday, Jul. 05, 2009

Readers share their flood memories

We asked readers to share their memories from the Flood of ’94, and many of them did. Here’s a sampler of the recollections sent to us. (Some of the notes have been edited for length and style.)

My wife and I were coming home from a trip to Virginia when we ran into Alberto going south from I-20. The rain got steadily worse as we got closer to Macon. The two-lane roads in Jones County were starting to flood, but we arrived home weary but intact that evening.

Losing electric power was (and still is) a common occurrence in our neighborhood, but we never expected to lose our water supply. One doesn’t realize the convenience of running water until the commode won’t flush, the shower runs dry and the clothes bin piles up. Following the advice of a friend, we found a way to bring running water back into our faucets, commodes and even a quick shower. My friend recommended closing the city/county water supply “cut off” to our house and pump water into the house through an outside water faucet. I went to Warner Robins and purchased 10 large trash cans from Lowe’s, filled them with water from family and friends outside Macon that had water and used a sump pump attached to a hose to pump it into our house. We were able to flush commodes, take quick showers and even wash clothes. We were able to refill our supply every two or three days again through friends and family that had water. We filled a sports water cooler for drinking and cooking. When the city/county water was restored a couple of weeks later, it was a simple matter to open the cut-off. Thought I’d pass on this innovation in case we had another event.

— John O’Shaughnessy, Macon

Bobby asked me out on a date on June 5, 1994, a few weeks before the flood. On July Fourth, we went on a date to Lake Blackshear. It began to rain and rain and rain, so we headed back home. I lived in an area around Rocky Creek Road, and Bobby lived in Warner Robins. As the rivers rose and the floodwaters came, we met that evening because he could not cross (the) Seven Bridges (area) on Ga. 247. A friend met us there on the other side of the bridge with some clothes for Bobby. Bobby walked across the bridge to get the clothes. Regardless of all the flooding, Bobby had to be at work, so he came back to my place. For two weeks he stayed there, and we did not even have running water. We bathed with baby wipes and bottled water. Everyone at work was wearing normal clothes instead of uniforms. ... We had to drive through Peach County to get to work because the normal road was closed. What normally took 15 minutes now was taking an hour and a half. During this time, Bobby was mentioned in The Telegraph, in a story titled “Fearless workers,” for pulling cable across rushing waters with his co-workers. I thought it was very selfless, considering he does not swim. The first time I met my future in-laws, I had not fixed my hair or showered in two weeks. How nice! What a great way to make a first impression. On July 18, 1994, at a birthday party, my Bobby asked me to marry him. Fifteen years and two kids later, I am still in love with my cable man. So you see, if it had not been for God’s grace and the flood of 1994, I might not be celebrating my 15 years of marriage this September.

— Christie Abbott Mines and Bobby William Mines Jr., Claremore, Okla.

On July 7, (my late husband) Don Hadaway received a call from the Frito-Lay plant in Perry. They were having problems and needed a part to keep the plant in operation or they would lose 25,000 pounds of potatoes. The road were blocked because of the water. So Don put on his thinking cap. He thought about different ways to drive, but the plant was shut off from Macon because of the flood. He called my half brother, who was a private pilot, to see if he could fly him down. No planes were available in Milledgeville. Finally, a plane was found and the part was flown down to Perry. Don dropped out of the plane to save the potatoes. A new slogan was born for Motion Industries: “We deliver come hell or high water.” He gathered up large barrels and filled them with water. However, this caused another problem. You see, Don Hadaway had a bad heart and had an implanted defibrillator. In lifting the water, he had pulled some of the wiring loose and had to go to Emory Hospital to have it repaired. When we got to the hospital, we immediately explained that people in Macon were without water and we had not had a decent shower since the flood. They were so gracious before his procedure. Don was allowed to shower, and I was given a room and lots of towels to use. What a great thing just to stand under that glorious stream of water. Nine months later, Don passed away. Motion Industries has since named an award for him. It is called “Above and Beyond the Call of Duty” and is given out to someone who goes the extra mile.

— Brenda Murphy, Macon

Our flood memories are of the indirect variety. You see, we were at my hubby’s elderly mom’s in New Castle, Pa. I’d just turned on “Good Morning America,” and the first person on the screen was Liz Jarvis Fabian saying the words “12 (inches) of rain in Macon” with the swollen Ocmulgee behind her! I flew to the phone to get in touch with the friend who was cat-sitting for us and couldn’t reach her for a day or so. I was more than a little panicked, but it turns out that our apartment complex was temporarily evacuated for a day or so due to the dam on Leisure Lake bursting. Our building was on higher ground and did not get flooded. The complex was evacuated because Leisure Lake Drive was flooded and the only way at the time in or out. We were glued to the flood coverage for the duration of our visit.

— Gene and Sherry Lazzaro, Warner Robins

We were living on Nottingham Drive at the time of the flood, and our property backed up to the river. We had an old pool and cabana in the back of our property that we had just started restoring. As the floodwaters rose, it actually cut the lights on in the pool house, and they stayed on under the water until the waters went back down. You could actually see them on under the water! It was weird.

— Linda Carter, Gray

I was packing up some of my personal items several weeks ago and ran across the shirt, “I Survived the Flood of 1994.” Actually when the rain came, resulting in that full-blown disaster, I was separated from my spouse and staying with a friend in the Atlanta area. It wasn’t my desire to leave my mother, my best friend, who was 84 at the time. Had I known this would take place, I wouldn’t have departed Macon. The flood brought me back to be reunited with both my mother and husband. There was no way I could abandon a loved one in such a time of need. Mother was residing at St. Paul Apartments way up on the 10th floor. What an accomplishment for her to transport water! The elevators weren’t operating, and being the kind person she was, she helped her neighbors. Mother should be commended for her efforts. However, I lost her in September of ’98.

— Alice L. Babb, Eatonton

In 1994, I was working at the Dooly County Health Department in Vienna as an environmental health specialist. When the flood hit our area, it created a good bit of work for me at the Flint River. People’s water supplies had to be tested and other health issues addressed. The floodwaters literally washed away one elderly man’s house at the river. The man said to me, “Mr. Nutt, they tell me this flood happens about every 500 years.” I said, “Yes sir, you’re probably right.” He said, “I was not prepared for it this time, but I will be the next time.” Even in the face of his loss, he was trying to be positive.

— Lawrence H. Nutt

In 1986, we elevated the hut to just above the 100-year flood plain and renovated the hut to become a home. After enduring the floods of 1990 and 1992, my wife and I decided it was time to move to higher ground. In 1993, we rented the house to a knowledgeable bachelor friend named Al. A day after Tropical Storm Alberto drenched Middle Georgia, I had to go to Atlanta on some business. During my trek, I noticed creeks were flooding their banks. I called Al and shared this information with him and that the National Weather Service was projecting 19-foot flood elevations, which would come close to flooding the house. I continued to call and urge him to move out. Around 2 p.m., he told me not to worry, that he had placed all the furniture on bricks. When I arrived at the house, there was a large wrecker pulling a transfer truck out of the yard while surrounded by floodwaters. Most of Al’s furniture was destroyed. Visiting with nearby neighbors, friends and family, we watched the waters rise very, very rapidly to a height that easily topped 10 feet above the flood plain. Suddenly, we heard a loud noise of the house breaking from the foundation. The house then turned upside down and traveled downstream. It was a sad yet spectacular sight, and gone were many great memories of living along the Ocmulgee River.

— Miller G. Edwards IV, Macon