Storm postpones school opening, wreaks havoc on roads
Torrential rains and tropical storm force winds pummeled Pierce County last week as the remnants of Hurricane “Debby” passed through the area.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported from the storm.
The storm made landfall near Steinhatchee, FL, Monday, Aug. 5, before crossing from southwest to southeast Georgia and then making a second landfall in South Carolina.
Widespread areas of the county received over 10 inches of rain during the storm washing out roads and causing flash flooding.
At its height, almost two-dozen of the county’s roads were closed, and countless others were heavily damaged and nearly impassable.
High winds toppled trees and caused sporadic power outages.
The beginning of the school year was delayed a full week due to flooded and impassable roads. School resumed Monday, August 12. (See related coverage.)
School superintendent Dara Bennett said students will not have to make up the days and there will not bean adjustment to the school calendar.
Darrel Middleton escaped injury when floodwaters swept his Jeep off Rawhide Road.
“We build in enough instructional time that we won’t have to make up the days,” she said.
Damage assessments are currently underway.
Pierce County has been included in an emergency disaster declaration issued by Governor Brian Kemp and approved by President Joe Biden.
The emergency declaration provides direct federal assistance to supplement response efforts due to emergency conditions resulting from Hurricane Debby. Pierce was one of 54 counties included in the declaration.
Sections of Blue Lake Road were undermined by the rushing waters of Hurricane Debby and required assistance from the Georgia Department of Transportation to repair in a timely manner.
Even parts of Main Street were left with areas of standing water thanks to Hurricane Debby. Seen above a police cruiser sends up a splashy wake as it drives through the intersection with Park Avenue.
