Flooding: Georgia awash with heartache

Relentless rains leave behind nine fatalities and widespread floodwaters tainted by sewage spill.

Last update: September 22, 2009 - 9:21 PM

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We the People

As someone whoÃ¢â¬â¢s seen the frequent devastation caused by flooding along the Red River I empathize with the plight of those affected … read more in Georgia. I hope their losses can be minimized and their recovery is swift. I would also respectfully ask how this traumatic event can be free from politics. Former president Reagan is famously quoted as stating: Ã¢â¬ÅThe most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help.Ã¢â¬Â He also observed: Ã¢â¬ÅGovernment isn't the solution to the problem; it is the problem.Ã¢â¬Â This seems to be the prevailing view of many on the right until they face a tragic loss. Could such flippancy lose its appeal when up to oneÃ¢â¬â¢s neck in rising water? Those who cheer these quotes are often quick to ask for rescue, emergency medical response, disaster assistance and other forms of government relief. IÃ¢â¬â¢m very much in favor of their getting as much help as can be provided and I hope itÃ¢â¬â¢s received as soon as possible. Is it too much to ask that those reflexively anti-government folks who are lent a hand be more reflective in their stance? ItÃ¢â¬â¢s sometimes said that a conservative is a liberal whoÃ¢â¬â¢s been mugged. If so, can a liberal be a conservative in great need who found that they could not prevail alone? ItÃ¢â¬â¢s all well and good to say that private charity and volunteers make government superfluous at best. However, there are times when the common good (and even individual needs) can only be met with public involvement. In such times one might remember that government is we the people.

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AUSTELL, GA. - Neighborhoods, schools and even roller coasters at Six Flags over Georgia remained awash in several feet of murky, brown water Tuesday, even as an emerging sun shed light on the widespread flood damage.

So far, at least nine deaths in Georgia and Alabama were blamed on the torrential downpours in the Southeast. The storms finally relented and relief was in sight with just a slight chance of rain overnight, but the onslaught left many parts of the region in stagnant water, some of it tainted by a large sewage spill on the Chattahoochee River.

The storm left nine people dead in its wake, including a toddler swept from his father's arms.

Authorities released a 911 call of one of the storm victim's last moments. Seydi Burciaga, 39, screamed to a dispatcher as water rose to her neck. The dispatcher advised her to try to break a window, but she couldn't. "I don't want to drown here, please!" Burciaga said.

In Tennessee, a man was still missing after jumping into the fast-moving water as part of a bet. Boats and trucks evacuated 120 residents from a retirement center as nearby creeks rose, and several hundred others were ferried out of low-lying neighborhoods.

Several hundred people in Georgia took refuge at shelters, and officials worked to clean up and repair washed out roads and bridges. Georgia officials estimated $250 million in damages.

At a shelter at the Cobb County Civic Center, Shirley Jones sat with others on green cots. Around them, children played, oblivious to the destruction.

"When I saw the water rising, it brought back bad memories," said Jones, who lived in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. The 72-year-old moved to the area two months ago. "I feel lost," she said. "I feel homeless."

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