Late afternoon rainstorm sends canals into streets

Amelia Teston had no idea when Thursday’s work day began she’d be leaving her downtown Waycross office through a window instead of the front door.

And she was thankful to do it. Teston’s Gateway Realty office at 516 Lott Street was inundated when a heavy rainstorm hit about 4:30 p.m., Thursday and overwhelmed the city’s canal system. The worst of the November 7 storm lasted about an hour, flooding downtown streets and knocking out power.

Many passengers became stranded during the storm as cars stalled out or became submerged in deep water.