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In the summer of 1994, Albany, Georgia, known to many as the Artesian City, faced a disaster that would test the resilience of its people and the mettle of its guardians.
That July, the weather took a drastic turn: a deluge of rainfall fell upon the city due to Tropical Storm Alberto, a massive storm that dumped feet of rainwater across the state of Georgia. Beginning July 5, that rain washed out roads, causing massive closings from southwest Georgia counties to Atlanta. The Flint River began swelling, causing rapid floodwater that devoured houses and businesses. It transformed the city into a chaotic landscape of submerged streets and stranded families.
As the waters rose, the Georgia Army National Guard sprang into action. Following a state of emergency declaration by Georgia’s Governor, the Georgia National Guard activated units who responded to the crisis in Albany. This declaration activated units from across the state, ready to help in any way they could. The operation became known as Operation Crested River.
Among the individuals fighting to save the city was retired Lt. Col. Matthew Shannon — a captain at the time — who was with Statesboro, Georgia’s 648th Engineer Battalion of the Macon, Georgia-based 48th Infantry Brigade.
"I was driving to Macon for training but when I got there, it was deserted,” Shannon said. “I found out then that there was a flood in Albany. I decided to get out of there as fast as I could, and I later found out, not long after I got on the highway, that all the roads behind me had closed due to the weather.”
The Guard’s convoys of military vehicles, sandbags, and emergency supplies arrived in a grateful Albany. Their presence was a beacon of hope for the distressed residents, whose entire livelihoods, and in many cases their homes, were washed away by the ravaging floodwaters.
To house individuals affected, the Guard opened six armories for people displaced by the storms. Transportation was also paramount in the operation. Trucks, helicopters, and other tactical vehicles were deployed to deliver supplies and transport the weak and injured from places such as hospitals, where generators were used to supply much-needed power to those who had to be evacuated. It was a race against time to protect the community that had already suffered so much.
"Being the engineer battalion, we were the muscle that made things move," said Shannon. "I was in charge of operations for the Defense Support to Civil Authorities (DSCA) mission, and that was to help however I could and, hopefully, serve others and help save lives. It was terrifying to see the destruction firsthand.
“If you want to talk about a natural disaster, we have something on our side: responsiveness. We [the Georgia Army National Guard] did things that that were not considered to be normal military missions because they were things that needed to be done.”
As the floodwaters receded, the focus shifted from rescue to recovery. The Guard worked together with local authorities and volunteers to help clean up debris, repair damaged infrastructure, and help rebuild residences. Their efforts were not just about restoring buildings, but to also restore the spirit of a community who had suffered so much. In total, 3,683 Guardsmen, more than a third of the Georgia Army National Guard's forces, were deployed to assist during and in the aftermath of the flooding. The storm ultimately claimed 30 lives, and Operation Crested River concluded on August 5.
That summer, the Georgia Army National Guard did what many others could not: they answered the call and faced the flood, emerging on behalf of a community who had both loved and lost. The flood of 1994 would be remembered not just for its destruction, but also for the courage and compassion that rose in its wake, embodied by the unwavering service of Georgia’s citizen-soldiers—a legacy of hometown heroism that continues to this day.
| Date Taken: | 06.08.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 06.29.2024 08:47 |
| Story ID: | 473431 |
| Location: | MARIETTA , GEORGIA, US |
| Hometown: | ALBANY, GEORGIA, US |
| Web Views: | 467 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Thirty Years Later: Remembering the Albany Flood, by SGT Allison Gilstrap, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
