Two people were rescued Friday morning from the Chattahoochee River in White County as officials there and in Habersham County dealt with flooding and washed-out roads caused by Thursday's night severe weather.
White County 911 received a call from one of the victims around 9:50 a.m. and dispatchers pinpointed his location in the Buck Shoals areas by pinging his phone through the Enhanced 911 System, said Fire Chief Seth Weaver.
When unit arrived, they found the caller was hanging onto a tree on the Habersham County side of the river. The victim said another person was down the river on the White County side. The Habersham Fire Department was called to assist the victim on their side of the river. Meanwhile, White County firefighters and rangers with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources walked the riverbank about one mile to reach the second victim.
Neither victim was injured.
Weaver said the river was unsafe at the time because of high water levels caused by the storm.
Meanwhile, flooding and landslides in White County also kept public safety officials busy as the storms rolled through there.
Authorities responded to numerous calls for help from people dealing with high water near streams and the river. White County Public Safety Director David Murphy said in a news release that flash flooding due to heavy rainfall, led to block roads, flooded cabins and vehicles and overturned propane tanks that caused gas leaks.
Murphy also said the county is investigating reports of damaged roads, culverts and infrastructure.
And two roads were washed out and widespread flooding was reported in Habersham County following severe weather there, emergency services announced Friday.
Both Shoal Creek Road, between Barney Field Road and Whitfield Road, and Odis Barron Road are washed out, and detours are in place. Repairs are expected to begin after utility work is completed, the county said.
Habersham County Emergency Services responded to two house fires caused by lightning. The worst flooding is at Pitts Park in downtown Clarkesville. Numerous trees are also reportedly down in the county.
Additionally, what is being called "a wind event" occurred on the Tallulah Gorge Scenic Loop, School Road and Nunnally Road. This event was dominantly around Tallulah Falls School. School was canceled for the day and although there was no word of damage to the school, power was out there.
Murphy also said the county is investigating reports of damaged roads, culverts and infrastructure.
No one was injured in either county.
