The rain may have subsided in Atlanta, Georgia, but the sun is shining a clear light on the flood damage that still remains.
Storms pounded Atlanta and surrounding areas, dropping 15 to 20 inches of rain for three days, causing nine deaths and an estimated $250 million in damage.
With a number of major events coming up, what will this flood mean for travelers to northern Georgia?
Driving around Atlanta will be difficult in upcoming days with many well-traveled routes still underwater. As of Wednesday, six bridges, nine roads and portions of the I-20 interstate highway that runs through Atlanta remain closed.
Even with waters receding and roads reopening, many Atlanta residents are still dealing with the aftermath. State emergency officials say there are still 30,000 homes without electricity. Early Tuesday, a sewage treatment plant near Atlanta flooded, releasing sewage into the Chattahoochee River.
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The turmoil caused by the floods will likely put many of this weekend’s events in perspective, but Atlanta’s attractions hope to bounce back by the weekend.
The final event of the PGA Tour’s FedExCup Playoffs is scheduled to be played at the East Lake Golf Club, 5 miles east of downtown Atlanta. The course has been closed to players all week, but tournament and course officials say it will be ready to go by Thursday’s opening round.
College football fans looking forward to Saturday’s games won’t have to worry about weather being an issue. Athens, home of the University of Georgia Bulldogs, has not been damaged by the storms. The Bulldogs are set to host Arizona State on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the annual Atlanta Football Classic between Florida A&M and Tennessee State is expected to kickoff at the Georgia Dome as planned on Saturday.
Other Atlanta attractions like the zoo, botanical gardens, aquarium, and World of Coca-Cola have seen drops in attendance due to weather, but expect to be open this weekend.
Six Flags over Georgia officials are still optimistic that the park will open this weekend, even though the area around the Scream Machine rollercoaster remains underwater.
The National Weather Service predicts sunny skies for the rest of today, but a chance of more rain is forecast for Thursday.
By Dan Bence for PeterGreenberg.com.
Related Links: Atlanta Journal-Constitution, New York Times, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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