HELEN, Georgia (CNN) – In the wake of deadly flooding in Texas earlier this month, a leading hydrologist is warning that conditions in parts of Georgia could be ripe for a similarly devastating event.
On a clear day in the mountains of north Georgia, the Chattahoochee River may seem like an ideal escape. Locals and tourists alike enjoy “tubing the Hooch,” floating leisurely on its waters. But the same river that brings relaxation can also turn deadly in an instant.
Sixteen years ago, deadly flooding along the Chattahoochee left a lasting impact on Laura Belanger, now a senior service hydrologist for the National Weather Service in Atlanta. The September 2009 floods in Georgia killed 10 people and inspired her to dedicate her career to improving flood warning systems…