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According to 1974 study 'We were warned'
By PAULINE LEWIS
Staff Writer
We should have known that the
floods would come.
We were warned several years ago
in a November 1974 study and re
port by the Corps of Engineers
conducted for the City of Perry.
Quoting from a section of this re
port, entitled "Flood Season and
Flood Characteristics":
"Major floods have occurred in the
study reaches of Big Indian Creek
and its tributaries during all seasons
of the year. The largest recorded
flood on Big Indian Creek was the
March 1966 flood. Large floods are
known to have occurred during July
1916, September-October 1929 and
March 1944. Flood stages can rise
from normal to extreme flood peaks
in a very short period of time. In
addition to floods caused by runoff
from general rainfall and
thunderstorm rainfall, the Houston
County area is susceptible to floods
caused by hurricane and tropical
storm activity."
We were warned.
The preface to the report reads:
"The portion of Houston County
and the City of Perry covered by
this report is subject to flooding
from Big Indian Creek and its tribu
Event to raise funds for bands
By VETO F. ROLEY
Sports Editor
Six of the best drum corps in the
Southeast will be at McConnell-
Talbert Stadium (formerly Interna
tional City Stadium) in Warner
Robins Monday, July 11, for the
heart of Georgia Classic Drum and
Bugle Corps competition, which is
sponsored by the Houston County
Area Band Boosters.
The event will start at 7 p.m.,
with tickets on sale for $8
(advance), and $lO at the door.
Tickets can be purchased at the
Perry Chamber of Commerce,
Crossroads Bank or Hilderbrand's
Office Supply.
The competition will feature
Carolina Crown from Charlotte,
N.C., Orlando Magic from Florida,
Southwind from Montgomery,
Ala., Suncoast Sound from Florida,
Delta Brigade from Little Rock,
Ark., and Lone Star from Texas.
The money raised from the show
will be equally divided among the
county's four high schools, said
Pete Suits, a member of the Hous
ton County Band Boosters.
"The money will be used to fund
the costs of band programs
throughout the year, including mu
sic, uniforms, transportation, repair
of instruments and purchase of in
struments the schoolboard can't
fund," said Suits.
Suits said the Houston County
Band Boosters was founded to pro
vide support to the local band pro
grams, and to lobby for better fund
ing for the programs. Recently, the
boosters work paid off with the
Houston County Board of Educa
tion approving $15,000 per school
for band assistants.
The eventual goal of the band
boosters, said Suits, was to see
Houston County bands be among
the best in the state. While he said
the extra $15,000 will help, "we
won't be there until we can have
full time assistant directors at all
four high schools."
Suits said the money would help
reduce the teacher-student ratio at
the schools, allowing better instruc
tion to students. Currently, he said,
some schools had 160 band students
( v GEORGE R. VITO . D.P.M.
\ 1 WILLIAM F. FADDOCK f aP-M,
V l FOOT 8 LEG CENTER
OF MIDDLE GEORGIA
O \ MEDICINE 8 SURGERV OF THE FOOT ,
AV ANKLE AND LOWER LEG
• PEDIATRIC FOOT CARE & DEFORMITIES * ENDOSCOPIC HEEL SPUR SURCERY
• DIABETIC FOOT & LOWER LEG CARE * CORRECTION OF HAMMERTOES
• TREATMENT OF INCROWN NAIIS * CORRECTION OF BUNIONS
• FRACTURES & SPRAINS OF FOOT & ANKLE * NERVE INJURIES & ENTRAPMENT
* TREATMENT OF ARTHRITIC DEFORMITIES AND JOINT REPLACEMENTS
PARTICIPATING PROVIDER FOR MEDICARE, BC/BS, STATE MERIT, AETNA AND
HEALTH CARE COMPARE
OFFICE HOURS BY APPOINTMENT
AMERICUS- 1102 E LAMAR ST (912) 928-9200
PERRY- 1100 MEETING ST (912) 987-0638
MACON -COLISEUM PROF. BLOC. D, #205 1-800-746-2900 OR (912) 738-9966
taries. The properties along these
streams are primarily residential,
commercial and industrial and have
been moderately damaged by the
floods of 1944 and 1966. The open
spaces in the flood plains which are
now under pressure for future devel
opment are moderately limited.
Although large floods have occurred
in the past, studies indicate that
even larger floods are possible."
We were warned.
"Natural obstructions to flood
flows include sand and soil de
posits, trees, brush and other vege
tation growing along and in the
stream channels. Manmade en
croachments on and over the
streams, such as dams, bridges,
culverts and buildings also create
more extensive flooding than would
otherwise occur.
"During floods, trees, brush and
other debris in the floodways re
strict the flood flows, thus creating
backwater and increasing the depth
of flow.
"At times, trees and other debris
are washed away and carried down
stream to collect on bridges, cul
verts and other obstructions. As
flood flow increases, masses of de
bris surge downstream until another
to every band director.
The school board also asked the
band boosters to help in a study to
find out what similar school sys
tems were doing for their band pro
grams. "Just by them asking us to
this (study)," said Suits, "is a step
in the right direction. I really be
lieve that the board is trying to help
us."
The Houston County Band
Boosters is composed individuals
and parents from all four county
Seniors can sign up for AARP driving course
Walt Rembisz will be the
instructor for AARP’s 55-Alive
Driving Course to be held at 6 p.m.
each evening at the Perry Hospital
from July 14-15.
Cost is $8 per person.
Individuals 50 years of age and older
are eligible to take the course. If
one of the spouses is 49, that
person can also take the course,
which includes lecture, class
participation, individual comments
and study from a text that students
may keep.
PUBLIC NOTICE
The Houston County Board of
Commissioners will hold a public
hearing at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday,
July 19, 1994 at the County Annex
Building, 200 Carl Vinson
Parkway, Warner Robins, Georgia
to consider a request to abandon
approximately 3,814 feet of Terrell
Road from Sewell Road. Any
interested person is invited to
attend.
obstruction is encountered. Debris
may collect against a bridge until
the load exceeds its structural capac
ity and the bridge is destroyed.
"The limited capacity of obstruc
tive bridges or culverts, or debris
plugs at the culvert mouth, or a
combination of these factors retard
flood flows. This results in in
creased flooding upstream, erosion
around the culvert or bridge em
bankment, and possible damage to
the overlying roadbed.
"Past floods have caused damage
in and near the City of Perry and
Houston County. During these past
floods, several road fills have been
washed out and homes and
businesses flooded.
"Flooding not only has a direct
economic impact, it also has an
indirect impact because of its effect
on people's lives, health and wel
fare. Flooding and threats of flood
ing promote action by local offi
cials in flood warning and flood
fighting activities.
"During past floods, local law en
forcement personnel, civil defense
personnel, public service personnel
and others have spent considerable
time and effort to evacuate and care
for flood victims, erect temporary
high schools. "We've proved that
we can work together as a team to
meet one goal."
Individuals interested in joining
the band boosters can contact Soots
at 922-4351, or attend one of the
meetings, which are held on the
second Monday at 7 p.m. The July
meeting will be at Northside High
School, the August meeting at
Houston County High School, the
September meeting at Warner
Robins High School and the Octo
ber meeting at Perry High School.
Those completing the course
will receive a certificate which they
may take to their insurance agent
and receive a 10 percent discount on
their automobile insurance
premiums.
A reminder to those who have
previously completed the course-a
refresher course must be taken every
three years and a new certificate
presented to your insurance agent in
order to keep your discount current.
For additional information, call
Rembisz, 912-987-1908.
barriers, restore necessary services
and clear debris. Large sums of
money have been spent in this ef
fort.
"In addition, health hazards may
develop as a result of flood damage
to water and sewage services.
"Floods larger than those that
have occurred in the past could oc
cur in the future on Big Indian
Creek and its tributaries. Larger
floods have been experienced on
streams with similar geographical
and physiographical characteristics
as those found in the study area.
"Similar combinations of rainfall
and runoff which caused these
floods in the nearby areas could oc
cur in the Houston County area."
We were warned.
This study was done at the request
of the Mayor and the City Council,
the Houston County Board of
Commissioners and the Department
of Natural Resources of the State of
Georgia.
Assisting in the preparation of the
report were the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA), National Weather Service,
the U.S. Geological Survey,
Houston County Board of
Commissioners, the Mayor and
City Council of the City of Perry,
and Bobby Branch, Editor of the
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PERRY, GA
1334 BALL ST.
988-8122
Watch Wednesday’s
TIMES-JOURNAL
For Super
GRAND OPENING SPECIALS
-u.u'u af) «ui, », ■»»>» Houston lines-Journal
Houston Home Journal, who per
mitted use of their photographs in
the report.
Mayor James McKinley received
the first Flood Plain Information
Report for Perry and Houston
County. It was prepared by Colonel
Edwin C. Keiser, District Engineer,
Department of the Army, Savannah
District, Corps of Engineers,
Savannah, and his staff.
In gathering data for the study,
The U. S. Geological Survey team
operated a gage on Big Indian Creek
at U.S. Highway 41 between
September 1943 and May 1972.
State discharge records at this sta
tion were discontinued in July
1971; however chemical analysis
data were collected until May 1972.
To supplement the records at the
gaging station, a search was made
of newspaper files, historical docu
ments and other records which de
veloped a knowledge of floods that
have occurred on Big Indian Creek
and its tributaries.
Aerial photographs were obtained
from the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Soil Conservation
Service. Stream cross-sections and
structural data on bridges and cul
verts were obtained by field surveys
made by the engineering firm:
"Williams, Weitzer and Barum,
Inc., under contract for the
Savannah District Corps of
Engineers.
We were warned.
But, what has been done to cope
with flooding conditions?
Zoning ordinances have been
passed and building codes enacted to
control flooding obstructions.
Since the study, weather warnings
are given over television stations,
repeated at intervals as necessary;
the E9ll system is in operation;
state, county and local officials
carry out procedures to ensure the
safety and well-being of persons and
property in the event of emergency
situations, such as flooding.
Then the floods came!
This area is blessed with volun
teers who also give of themselves -
their time, energy and efforts toward
making disaster victims comfort
able and able to resume normal
lives.
It's neighbors helping neighbors
and the strangers within "our gates"
that makes the Perry area a special
place to live, work, play and wor
ship.
The Lord has dealt kindly with us
in that no lives were lost here.
Now will come the task of clean
ing up and bringing the damaged ar
eas back to a good condition.
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