Damage to infrastructure and property across county
A sky filled with lightning and rain brought severe flooding to Gilmer County on Tuesday, July 28.
After the storm, one man was reported missing on Carters Lake, according to an alert from the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO).
Sean Michael Cunningham, a 37-year-old, was canoeing late at night when the storm hit. His last communication before his phone died came from under a dock near Woodring Campground.
In the following days, kayakers found his backpack and others found his truck.
So far, the GCSO, Murray County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Gilmer County Search and Rescue have been unable to find him.
Anyone with information that could help locate Cunningham can contact the DNR at 800-366-2661, the MCSO at 706-695-6222 and the GCSO at 706-635-8911.
As of writing, Cunningham has not been found.
The flooding from the storm was the worst in years. According to the GCSO’s update about the storm, the rain gauge in downtown Ellijay recorded 3.8 inches of rain in just an hour.
Deputies, dispatchers, firefighters, public works crews, utility workers and emergency management agency staff worked through the night to save stranded motorists, respond to flooded roadways and respond to other calls.
Some of the worst flooding was at Cox Creek near downtown Ellijay.
At the storm’s peak, 3,800 customers lost power, Gates Chapel Road was completely washed out and floodwaters entered multiple buildings. Chatsworth Highway was also damaged.
“I went out last night around 8:30. Slight mist, not even a drizzle.” Austin Sallade, a Gilmer resident near Gates Chapel Road, said a day after the storm. “Within a half hour, boom. Big thunder, downpour, and we had over four inches of rain.”
Damage to a water main led to the issuing of a boil water notice for some parts of the county.
By now, Gates Chapel Road and Chatsworth Highway have been repaired. The boil water notices have also been lifted.
Floodwaters hit the Coosawattee Shrine Club and got concerningly near a local nursing home, according to the GCSO post.
“We’ve never gotten a drop of water into that building with any of the major floods,” Coosawattee Shrine Club member Mark Simmons said. “We don’t have flood insurance. We’ve never needed it.”
But this time, the flood poured into the club’s buildings, destroying three parade cars, the club’s carpets, air conditioning systems, insulation, sound systems, air conditioning units and more.
He estimates that the floods have caused between $30,000 and $45,000 in damages for the club.
This figure goes far beyond the club’s planned maintenance budget.
“We work with local people, helping them to get to the hospital and stuff like that,” Simmons said. “We raise money for the Yaarab Shrine in Atlanta and the big shrine hospitals around the country and around the world.”
To help with the expense, the club has opened a GoFundMe page. People can donate to the page at gofundme.com/f/rebuild-coosawattee-shrine-club-after-flood.
Those interested in donating can also mail checks to the Coosawattee Shrine Club at PO Box 197, Ellijay, Georgia 30540.
“Coosawattee Shrine Club is the heartbeat of the Shriners in Ellijay and Jasper area. And we kind of need a little bit of help,” Simmons said.
Gilmer County’s damage assessment teams are working to catalogue the damage to the county.
If your home, business or property experienced significant storm damage, you can report it by emailing emagilmer@gmail.com.
Those reporting damage should provide their address, photos of the damage if possible and a brief description of the damage.
These reports will help determine the magnitude of damage.
If a disaster is severe enough, a county can receive federal aid.
The GCSO thanked those who worked to protect the county during the storm.
“Our thoughts are with everyone affected, and we appreciate the patience and cooperation shown throughout this challenging event,” the GCSO update page stated.