Runoff from heavy rains that hit the area Tuesday and Wednesday drained into east Lowndes County early today, flooding roads and homes along Magby Creek. Columbus and portions of Lowndes County were under flood warnings as the Magby and Luxapalila creeks overflowed.
Rescue boats were called out and the Columbus public works department began stacking sandbags and erecting barricades this morning after Magby Creek overflowed into the Masonic subdivision off Tuscaloosa Road at about 6 a.m. today.
“There are some homes taking water,” said Public Works Assistant Director Casey Bush. “Some of the homeowners, they”re panicking, especially the elderly.”
Although homeowners were upset by the flooding, Ward 3 Councilman Charlie Box said no one had been injured.
“There”s water in people”s houses — that”s pretty good damage,” he said.
The Columbus fire and police departments were at the scene helping people move valuables out of their homes at about 9 a.m. today, Box said.
Flooding also closed several roads in the area, including Lehmberg Road, between Short Lehmberg Road and Highway 50.
The flooding was expected to crest and begin diminishing by noon, Bush said.
“We”ll begin drying out after that,” he added.
The Masonic subdivision residents have endured flooding several times before, despite efforts by the city to control the creek, Box said.
“They put up with this every time it gets like this,” Box said. “We”ve done a lot of ditch digging out there but we”re going to have to dig more to get the water flowing faster.”
“I know the people are upset,” he added. “We”re upset too. But we”ll keep trying to get something done about it.”
The National Weather Service issued a flood warning for Lowndes County and Columbus as Magby and Luxapalila creeks flooded.
The flood warning along the Magby was set to expire at 6 p.m. today, but a warning for the larger Luxapalila was extended until Saturday afternoon, the weather service said.
Flood stage for the Luxapalila is 15 feet, and the creek was supposed to crest at nearly 17 1/2 feet by midnight tonight, the weather service said. Water was flowing over roads in the Steens area, including Gunshoot, Black Creek and Yellow Creek roads.
The creek was expected to fall below flood stage by Saturday morning, the weather service said.
The weather service advised motorists to avoid secondary roads in north Columbus and the Steens area.
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