Branford faces worst flood since '48

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April 9, 2009

River is rising by the hour

By Jeff Waters, Democrat Reporter The Suwannee Democrat Thu Apr 09, 2009, 08:55 AM EDT

Heavy rains in Georgia have caused the Withlacoochee and Alapaha rivers to flood, sending torrents of water downstream to the Suwannee. The effect here may be severe. River levels in Branford are forecast to rise more than eight feet above flood stage, according to the National Weather Service, sending water into the streets of Branford.

The NWS forecast calls for river levels in Branford to reach 37.2 feet by April 16. As of Wednesday at 4 p.m., the river was at 25.76 feet. Flood stage is 29 feet.

But as to when - or if - the water will reach downtown Branford, it's hard to say. The Suwannee River Water Management District says Main Street will flood at 34.8 feet. However, the river reached 35.57 feet during the flood of April 1973, and, by all accounts, Main Street stayed open. Increased construction may have reduced area runoff and lowered flood levels. In any case, current predictions exceed all but the 1948 flood, when the Suwannee reached a depth of 38.88 feet.

Sheriff Tony Cameron, also the county Emergency Management Director, says it's important to be ready.

"At this time and for the next several days we will see minor flooding along the Suwannee River," he said. "By week's end expect major flooding."

At Three Rivers Estates the Santa Fe River had reached 19.29 feet by noon Wednesday, slightly above flood stage of 19 feet. The river is forecast to rise to 32 feet by April 17. At 26 feet, access to area homes is compromised and severe flooding of most homes occurs, SRWMD says.

The Santa Fe River at Hildreth at the US 129 bridge had reached 19.55 feet by 3 p.m. Wednesday. The river was expected to reach its flood stage of 21 feet by tomorrow and to rise to 32.2 by April 17. At 28.5 feet, the restaurant at Sandy Point is surrounded by water.

Here's the latest at other critical points along area rivers:

DOWLING PARK (Affected areas: Suwannee Hamilton, Lafayette counties.)

By 4 p.m. Wednesday the Suwannee River at Dowling Park had reached 48.7 feet and was projected to reach 58.1 feet by April 13. The Advent Christian Village was flooded in April 1973 when the Suwannee reached 58.8 feet.

"That's going to be significant for those folks," a Service Hydrologist for the NWS in Tallahassee said in a conference call Monday at the Suwannee County Emergency Operations Center. "Folks are going to have problems all down the river."

According to ACV officials, the river will have to reach about 61 feet before the Good Samaritan Center nursing home, located at the Village, is affected. Officials said that some homes might have to be evacuated at 57-58 feet.

Cameron said emergency personnel are on standby should evacuation be required.

At 56.7 feet, CR 250 will begin to flood near the bridge and floodwaters will cause the closure of the intersection of CR 250 and CR 136.

ELLAVILLE (Affected areas include Suwannee, Hamilton and Madison counties.) The Suwannee reached flood stage of 54 feet at Ellaville Monday afternoon, and by 4 p.m. Wednesday stood at 61.33 feet.

The river is expected to rise to 66.1 feet by Saturday morning. At 64.7 feet, water will reach the roadbed of the US 90 bridge. At 66 feet, water will reach the roadbed of the SR 51 bridge at Luraville.

WHITE SPRINGS (Affected areas: Hamilton, Columbia counties.)

The Suwannee had reached 72.38 feet by 3 p.m. Wednesday. The river is forecast to reach its flood stage of 77 feet by this evening and to rise to 77.6 feet by Friday.

Cameron also reminded those who live in flood prone areas to make sure they have arranged to move livestock to higher ground.

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Branford News

Suwannee County's vals and sals
Editor's note: In today's paper (May 25) salutatorian is above Mara Lance's photo. Lance is a Suwannee High School valedictorian.

SHS

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Salutatorian
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BHS
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