On this date in 1994, Tropical Storm Alberto made landfall near Destin, Florida with top winds of 65 mph and a central pressure of 995 mb. Nothing to write home about. Damage along the coast was negligible. But Alberto was a serious reminder that tropical storms can be quite devastating, especially as it comes to inland flooding.
After landfall, the motion of the storm slowed and precipitation increased. The storm moved slowly through Alabama into Georgia, stalling just south of Atlanta. Over the next few days it reversed its course and then looped back on its previous course before ultimately dissipating.
During that period it dumped copious amounts of rain across the area. Amounts as high as 21.1 inches in 24 hours were observed at Americus, Georgia. and Macon was deluged with over ten inches. This rainfall produced record and near-record flooding along the Flint, Ocmulgee, Chattahoochee,Choctawhatchee, and Apalachicola Rivers.
Overall, flash flooding and flooding caused by the rainfall from Alberto took thirty three lives, destroyed thousands of homes (including some entire communities), forced approximately 50,000 people to be evacuated, and caused property damage (including lost crops) estimated as high as $750 million.
It would be the worst natural disaster in the history of the state of Georgia. Thirty counties were declared disaster areas.
After landfall, the motion of the storm slowed and precipitation increased. The storm moved slowly through Alabama into Georgia, stalling just south of Atlanta. Over the next few days it reversed its course and then looped back on its previous course before ultimately dissipating.
During that period it dumped copious amounts of rain across the area. Amounts as high as 21.1 inches in 24 hours were observed at Americus, Georgia. and Macon was deluged with over ten inches. This rainfall produced record and near-record flooding along the Flint, Ocmulgee, Chattahoochee,Choctawhatchee, and Apalachicola Rivers.
Overall, flash flooding and flooding caused by the rainfall from Alberto took thirty three lives, destroyed thousands of homes (including some entire communities), forced approximately 50,000 people to be evacuated, and caused property damage (including lost crops) estimated as high as $750 million.
It would be the worst natural disaster in the history of the state of Georgia. Thirty counties were declared disaster areas.