PRESS RELEASE- Dozens of Catoosa County residents were forced to evacuate their flooded homes with assistance from first responders, support agencies, and regional mutual aid partners after storms quickly dropped several inches of rain late Tuesday.

All Catoosa County Fire Department personnel were called into action with swift water rescue teams at two apartment complexes in Fort Oglethorpe. Working with mutual aid partners Walker County Fire Rescue, swift water rescue teams evacuated about 80 people at The Crossings apartments on Fant Drive where waist-deep water flooded first floor units. Swift water rescue teams also evacuated about 35 people at the Fountain Brooks apartments on Cross Street whose homes were flooded with rapidly rising water. All residents were successfully evacuated without injury.

Catoosa County Transit/Trans-Aid transported evacuees to temporary shelter at the Constitution Hall and Westside Voting Precincts. Northwest Georgia Red Cross personnel are helping to provide overnight shelter and support to residents in need at the Catoosa Training Center Rifle Range operated by the Tennessee Army National Guard near Ringgold.

Catoosa County Animal Control officers responded to the scenes to provide temporary accommodation for pets at the County’s Animal Shelter while their owners are staying in temporary housing.

Supporting evacuation operations were Catoosa County Emergency Management Agency, Catoosa County E-911, Catoosa County CERT, Puckett EMS, Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office, Catoosa County Building Inspections, Catoosa County Transit/Trans-Aid, and Fort Oglethorpe Police Department. Whitfield County Fire Department provided fire fighters and equipment to staff Catoosa County fire stations during evacuation operations.

During the height of the storms about 20 Catoosa County roads were closed Tuesday evening due to high water levels and debris. Catoosa County Public Works crews are working into the night to clear roads of debris as flood waters recede.