Troup County family escapes as water floods home

Published 12:00 am Friday, December 25, 2015

Rising waters displace local residents

By Melanie Ruberti

mruberti@civitasmedia.com

Residents of a flooded home on Leathea Drive stand outside their home Thursday.

http://lagrangenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2015/12/web1_Flooding03WEB.jpgResidents of a flooded home on Leathea Drive stand outside their home Thursday.

Tyler Jones | Daily News

Troup County firefighters inspect a flooded home on Leathea Drive on Thursday.

http://lagrangenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2015/12/web1_Flooding04WEB.jpgTroup County firefighters inspect a flooded home on Leathea Drive on Thursday.

Tyler Jones | Daily News

Residents and neighbors look toward a flooded house on the Leathea Drive on Thursday following heavy rains and flash flooding. No one was injured, but a family member said she awoke to find several feet of water in her home.

http://lagrangenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2015/12/web1_Flooding01WEB.jpgResidents and neighbors look toward a flooded house on the Leathea Drive on Thursday following heavy rains and flash flooding. No one was injured, but a family member said she awoke to find several feet of water in her home.

Tyler Jones | Daily News

LaGRANGE — Lisa Folds’ Christmas plans changed drastically Thursday morning just before 10:30 when she opened the front door to her home off Leathea Drive and looked outside.

“My son came over and said, ‘Momma, we’re about to get flooded!’ I opened the door and the water started coming in,” she said.

With water flowing in from the overflowing creek next to the house, and little time to spare, Folds said she made sure her daughter, two granddaughters, grandson and son safely got out of the home.

But remembering it was Christmas Eve, she went back and grabbed all the gifts so her grandchildren would not be disappointed in the morning.

“We saved those,” Folds explained. “Instead of clothes we saved ‘Santa Claus’ and presents. We just came out dressed in what we had on and didn’t try and go back in for anything else.”

Folds said by the time they evacuated out of the home, the water had risen to her mid-thigh.

For the full story, pick up the Weekend edition of LaGrange Daily News, available Saturday morning.

Melanie Ruberti is a reporter with LaGrange Daily News. She may be reached at 706-884-7311, ext. 2156.