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UPDATE: Debby’s rains soak the area
Portions of Mount Olivet Church Road remain under water; 144 closed from Old Sunbury to Richmond Hill gate
fleming flooding 3

Rain gauges at the MidCoast Regional Airport have recorded nearly 7 inches of rain since Tropical Storm Debby’s approach to coastal Georgia.

Highway 144 on Fort Stewart from Old Sunbury Road to the boundary gate just west of Richmond Hill is closed due to standing water on the road at multiple locations. One lane of Highway 196 near the Fleming Shortcut is closed because over water over the road. A sheriff's deputy is on scene.

The Liberty County Emergency Management Agency is tracking reports on five homes damaged by the storm.

Many dirt roads across the county are under water in spots, according to the EMA. Rainfall amounts ranged from 5.33 inches in Midway and 6.71 inches in Hinesville to more than 12 inches in Gum Branch, with higher amounts in area others, according to Robert Dodd, director of the Liberty EMA.

For residents near Mount Olivet Church Road in Fleming, staying informed about road conditions is essential, especially with the potential for worsening road conditions overnight. The Liberty County Emergency Management Agency has shared insights on the situation, indicating that flooding is due to rising waters on the Canoochee and Ogeechee rivers. EMA officials said it is crucial to exercise caution and consider alternative routes if necessary and to stay updated on local advisories and prioritize safety in these conditions.

Those affected are encouraged to document any damage via email to libertycountyema@libertycountyga.com or call 912-368-2201. Include your complete address, a brief description of the damage, and any relevant photographs.

Around 11:30 p.m. Monday, a tree fell on a mobile home in Walthourville, and firefighters from the Walthourville Fire Department had to kick in a rear door to help the family escape.  According to Walthourville Fire Chief Nick Maxwell, the firefighters were assisting the family as heavy limbs continued to fall around them. No injuries were reported.  

An uprooted tree lifted the home from its foundation and pinned it against another tree on the other side of the house.

The family of four is staying in a hotel.

The City of Hinesville reported a major spill of 11.12 million gallons of partially treated wastewater occurred at the Fort Stewart Water Pollution Control Plant on Monday. On Tuesday, there was another spill of 15.66 million gallons of partially treated wastewater.

The facility discharges to an unnamed tributary leading to Taylors Creek, and on this day, the total suspended solids of 66 mg/l leaving the facility exceeded the spill threshold of 25 mg/l set by EPD. The spills were due to stormwater entering the collection system during an excessive rainfall event.

Georgia EPD, Fort Stewart Environmental, and the Liberty County Health Department were notified of the spill.

Long County Commission Chairman Robert Parker issued a voluntary evacuation order Tuesday for all Crawford subdivision residents, including those on Carson Street. Residents who remain behind may find themselves unable to leave the area until the floodwaters recede. Long County first responders also may not be able to respond if an emergency situation should arise.

The Long County High School opened as a shelter for Long County residents.

Bob Sprinkel of the Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief Team drove around Liberty County to see where help might be needed. He looked at a house on Leroy Coffer Highway to see if the team needed to do a “mud out,” where the team takes out the flooring after the water has come up to a certain level.

“Everything we do with Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief is free to the homeowner,” Sprinkel said. “We go on private property, with permission of the homeowner, and take care of this. If trees fall on a house, we come in with a chain saw crew.”

The house on Leroy Coffer flooded after heavy rains throughout Monday night. According to Liberty County Commission Chairman Donald Lovette, a clogged drain may have been the cause. A drain in the front yard was supposed to cross under the road into a drainage ditch across from the home. Crews cleared the drain, causing a torrent of water to fill the ditch and leading to water in the front yard to recede.

The Liberty County Emergency Management Agency was tracking the conditions of more than two dozen roads, mainly in the east end and in the west end that were deemed impassable as of Wednesday morning.

The Coastal Health District is urging private well owners to take precautions and disinfect any well that flooded during recent severe weather. When a well is flooded, the water can become contaminated with bacteria that could cause waterborne illness.

Disinfection of a flooded private well cannot begin until the water covering the affected well has receded.

Information is also available at coastalhealthdistrict.org/decontaminating-private-wells-after-flooding

Steps to disinfect flooded private wells

Step 1: Thoroughly clean all accessible surfaces removing any loose debris. Then wash the area with a strong chlorine solution (1 quart of household bleach per 5 gallon of water).

Step 2: Remove the well cap and add 1 gallon of non-scented household liquid bleach.

Step 3: Run water from an outside faucet through a hose until a strong chlorine smell can be detected. Place the end of the hose in the well allowing the water to run down the sides of the casing and circulate for at least 15 minutes. Replace the well cap.

Step 4: Turn off the hose and enter the home opening each tap, one at a time, until chlorine can be detected. Please include hot water faucets, toilets, bathtubs, washing machine, etc.

Step 5: Once the chlorine odor reaches all outlets, let the water system stand for at least 8 hours and preferably overnight. Refrain from any water use during this time.

Step 6: Flush the system of chlorine by turning on an outside faucet letting it run until the chlorine smell dissipates. Finally, run the indoor faucets until the water is clear and the chlorine smell is gone. Do not run any unnecessary water into the septic system or allow the chlorinated water to drain into a stream or pond. The well cannot be flushed too much!

Step 7: The water should be tested to determine if it’s safe to drink. It is recommended that over the next several weeks two additional samples are taken, and the results are satisfactory. Well water can be tested at your local county health department or county extension office. Repeated chlorination and/or a well professional should be called if problems remain.

 

Lewis Levine contributed to this report.

VIDEO: Tropical Storm Debby

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VIDEO: Crawford subdivision flooding

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EMA road update

VIDEO: Gov. Brian Kemp addresses storm damage, recovery

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3rd ID, Army, allies mourn four soldiers lost in accident
Farewell ceremony set for Thursday morning in Lithuanian capital
four soldiers

The four U.S. Army soldiers assigned to 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry found deceased near Pabradė, Lithuania have been identified.  

The Army has confirmed the four soldiers who died when their vehicle sank into a bog as Staff Sgt. Edvin Franco, 25, Staff Sgt. Jose Duenez, 25, PFC Dante Taitano, 21, and Staff Sgt. Troy Knutson-Collins, 28.

"First and foremost, we offer condolences to the loved ones of our soldiers,” said Gen. Christopher Donahue, commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa. “I can't say enough about the support our Lithuanian Allies have provided us. We have leaned on them, and they, alongside our Polish and Estonian Allies - and our own sailors, airmen and experts from the Corps of Engineers - have enabled us to find and bring home our soldiers. This is a tragic event, but it reinforces what it means to have Allies and friends.” 

The four soldiers, who were the crew of a M88A2 armored recovery vehicle, went missing in the early morning hours of March 25. Their vehicle eventually was found March 26 but it was beneath approximately 14 feet of water and sunk into more than six feet of mud.

Crews worked to drain the area around the vehicle to make it stable for heavy equipment needed to pull out the M88. U.S. Navy divers were flown in and attached cables to hoist points so the submerged vehicle could be lifted out of the bog.

"This past week has been devastating. Today our hearts bear the weight of an unbearable pain with the loss of our final Dogface Soldier," said Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, 3rd ID commanding general. “Though we have received some closure, the world is darker without them.” 

Knutson-Collins, Duenez Jr., and Franco were all posthumously promoted to the rank of staff sergeant.

Knutson-Collins was an artillery mechanic with over seven years in the Army. He arrived at Fort Stewart in February 2018 and was assigned to 1/41 Field Artillery Battalion.

Knutson-Collins graduated from the Army Basic Leader Course, the Advanced Leaders Course, the Tracked Vehicle Recovery Operations course, and the Combat Lifesaver course. He deployed to Korea in 2020.

His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Master Technician Badge.

“Words cannot express how deeply this loss is felt by everyone in our unit,” said Capt. Jackson Patillo, commander, Foxtrot Company, 1/41 Field Artillery Battalion. “Staff Sgt. Troy Collins was an exceptional friend to all of us and an irreplaceable member to our entire Fox family that we will truly miss.”

“The pain we feel from this loss is insurmountable,” said Lt. Col. Erick Buckner, 1/41 Field Artillery Battalion commander. “Staff Sgt. Knutson-Collins was well loved throughout our unit and a brother to all. He was an expert, an incredibly talented mechanic and a warrior. We will never forget his dedication to his unit, his family and his country.”

“We are incredibly relieved that we were able to bring this recovery to an end and bring closure to all the families, friends and teammates of our soldiers,” said Maj. Gen. Curtis Taylor, commanding general of the 1st Armored Division, who also grew up on Fort Stewart. “We cannot thank our Allies and fellow service members enough, especially the Lithuanians, who spared no resource in support of this mission. Together, we delivered on our promise to never leave a fallen comrade.” 

Throughout the seven-day recovery effort, the combined and joint team worked day and night to find the soldiers. 

“As the fourth and final soldier has been recovered from this tragic accident, we will continue to mourn their loss as we work to quickly return our Dog Face Soldiers home to their families,” said Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza, commanding general of V Corps and former Fort Stewart and 3rd ID commanding general. “It has been truly amazing and very humbling to watch the incredible recovery team from different commands, countries and continents come together and give everything to recover our Soldiers. Thank you, Lithuania, Poland, Estonia, the U.S. Navy and the Army Corps of Engineers. We are forever grateful.” 

All four soldiers were deployed to Lithuania in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve to provide credible ground deterrence alongside Allies and partners, and were permanently stationed at Fort Stewart. 

“I'm immensely proud of our entire team. They have been relentless in their efforts to search and recover our soldiers and get every capability and asset necessary to enable this effort,” Gen. Donahue said. 

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also posted on X his sorrow at the loss of the four soldiers.

“I want to personally extend my deepest condolences to the families of all four fallen soldiers,” he wrote. “Our hearts are heavy across the Department of Defense. We are deeply grateful to our brave servicemembers who enabled this difficult recovery and to our Lithuanian hosts who labored alongside them. The recovery was conducted with urgency, resolve and deep respect for the fallen. We will never forget these soldiers — and our prayers are with their families.”

A farewell ceremony for the soldiers will be held Thursday morning in Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital.

“Every soldier is also a Lithuanian soldier, and their families’ pain is our pain,” said a statement from the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense.

The U.S. Army is investigating the cause of the accident. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available. 

"We continue to stand by the families and loved ones through this incredibly difficult time,” said Maj. Gen. Norrie. “Now, it’s time to bring them home.” 

 

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