Sunday evening, Monday morning rains cause flash flooding

Published 12:05 pm Monday, January 13, 2020

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Heavy rains starting Sunday night into Monday morning left portions of Covington County dealing with issues of flash flooding, washouts and more.

In Andalusia, City of Andalusia Communication Director Michele Gerlach said that around 8 a.m., the city of Andalusia Utilities employees were waiting on flash flooding to thoroughly subside so that they could assess damages caused to the water and sewerage systems by flooding.

Water and Sewer Operations Manager Tim Glisson said flooding on Pinewood Road behind Andalusia Ford caused a break in a 12-inch water main.

Some residents in the area were without water service.

The road was also closed from the North Bypass at Andalusia Ford to Manavista Street.

Around 10 a.m., utilities crews were able to isolate the water main issue and water tanks were beginning to refill.

Covington County Commission Chairman Greg White said that county engineer crews were out assessing roads and placing barricades where needed.

White encouraged locals not to move or go around barricades.

EMA Director Susan Harris said that Monday had mostly rain and some flash flooding.

“Some of the rain is really settling in some low-lying areas around Academy Drive, Pinewood Drive, U.S. Hwy. 84 West, where DOT has placed out cones and vehicles with directional light,” she said. “This should keep the passing cars and safer on the south side of each lane. According to our report, the rain will be with us for a while today and possibly into the evening hours at least and will be heavy at times.”

The Sunday evening and Monday storms caused outages of 199 customers of Covington Electric Cooperative.

“Severe thunderstorms rolled through our area last night and we had approximately 199 members without power during the overnight hours beginning around midnight,” Patty Singleton-Seay, spokesperson for CEC, said. “Crews worked as quickly and safely as possible throughout the weekend to restore power to members impacted by these storms. We certainly appreciate the understanding and patience of our members as we worked to resolve these outages.”

Story and gallery will be updated throughout the day.