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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 Adyancem Auto Partsm NOW OHM mmmm 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. Page 3A