Flooding prompts evacuations in parts of N. Ga.

Up to seven inches of rain has been reported in the past few hours in parts of north Georgia, trees are down in places and some roads are blocked.

The emergency manager in Pickens County reports that authorities were evacuating some homes due to rising water Wednesday morning. The Pickens County Sheriff's Office reported that water was over Church Street and Burton Street in Jasper.

Residents in Pickens and Gilmer counties are still cleaning up after severe flooding one week ago.

Flash Flood Warnings are in place in some areas and a Flash Flood Watch has been posted. (See separate article.)

The National Weather Service (NWS) says "heavy rain this morning has dumped anywhere from 3 to almost 7 inches of rain across portions of north Georgia. Additional widespread amounts of 1 to 2 inches can be expected with locally higher amounts." Rainfall in Gainesville at Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport since midnight totaled .71 inches as of 8:00 Wednesday morning. By 1:30 p.m., the total was 1.74 inches.

The hardest hit areas appear to be some mountain counties. Flash Flood Warnings were posted for Dawson, Gilmer, Pickens and Lumpkin counties overnight and into the early morning. Flood warnings are also up in Stephens, Forsyth and Cherokee counties. The Flash Flood Watch is in effect for portions of north central Georgia, northeast Georgia (including the Gainesville area) and northwest Georgia.

Roads have been closed across the region as a result of downed trees and high water. (See separate story on road closures.)

(The Associated Press contributed to this story.)

http://accesswdun.com/article/2013/8/264265