Weekend Vigil Of Columbia and Gordon Along The River

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: RStokes
[email protected]
334-790-1729
Date: Dec 31 2018 5:10 PM

COLUMBIA - GORDON - HOUSTON COUNTY: Over the weekend and today management oversight over the Chattahochee River has been on the minds of area leaders.

On Saturday night area officials verbally notified the residents of Gordon and Columbia along the river to be aware. The levels of the river have been on the rise and the area "could" be in danger of flooding. There were no mandatory evacuations but precautions that flooding could occur.

The rain in North Georgia affects Early County Georgia and Houston County Alabama along the river.

Currently the discharge of water at Ft. Gaines Georgia dam is 50,500 cubic feet per second. ( 12/31/2018 @ 4:52 PM CST ).

Currently the discharge of water at Columbia Alabama dam is 58,400 cubic feet per second. ( 12/31/2018 @ 4:52 PM CST ).

The forecast of stage feet at Columbia are: 12/31/2018 @ 7:00 PM is 101.90: 01/01/2019 @ 1:00 AM is 102.00: 01/01/2019 @ 7:00 AM is 102.00: 01/01/2019 @ 7:00 PM is 101.60:

The continued forecast on 01/02/2019 is 1:00 AM @ 98.90: @ 7:00 AM is 98.00: and at 1 PM is 97.10.

So the water appears, based on the forecast presented at this time, to be on a downward departure which will prevent flooding.

This is based on careful management of the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers of the dams.

At a level of 115.0 water will reach the top of the lock walls at Columbia Lock and Dam and the dam will be evacuated.

At 113.0 is the initial flood stage. And as you can see above levels were reaching 102.00.

Dothan-Houston County Emergency Management Director Chris Judah, Columbia Mayor Rhonda Freeman, Columbia Fire Chief Clint Wright, Columbia Police Chief Phillip Killingsworth, along with Gordon Fire Chief Justin McAllister, Gordon Police Chief Jim Mock, Houston County Sheriff Donald Valenza along with members of the Houston County Commission, most especially Doug Sinqfield and Ricky Herring, have kept watchful eyes and area residents informed.

Today Dothan-Houston County Emergency Management Director Chris Judah spent his holiday in Columbia and Gordon looking and surveying the area and talking with residents.

No alarm sounding, just a watchful eye and preparation.

The rain in North Georgia has drastic affects of Houston County Alabama and Early County Georgia.

HISTORY OF CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER

From its headwaters in the Blue Ridge Mountains of north Georgia, the Chattahoochee flows southwestward as a small, swift running stream through Atlanta before turning south near the Alabama border. After coursing through a series of rapids between West Point and Columbus, the river gradually becomes wider and flows considerably slower as it winds its way southward. The Chattahoochee joins the Flint River near the Florida state line, and for the rest of its course is known as the Apalachicola River. It empties into the Gulf of Mexico at Apalachicola Bay, over 400 miles from its source.

The headwaters of the river are near Chattahoochee Gap in the mountains of north Georgia. The river begins its journey as a small stream five miles from Brasstown Bald, the highest point in the state of Georgia. The river's journey begins at an elevation of over 3500 feet above sea level, and ends in the Gulf of Mexico.

SO THE CONCERN AND WATCHFUL EYE

Hopefully this explains the watchful eye and precaution. The area leaders and Dothan-Houston County Emergency Management Director wants to always be prepared and ahead of the event rather than behind the event.

Having just completed two years as EMA Director, Chris Judah has worked hard to stay ahead of the curve rather than behind the curve.

Stay tuned as information is closely monitored. But events in North Georgia, as you see, have dramatic affect on our area.