LEE COUNTY, GA (WALB) -
As more rains fall on already soaked South Georgia, many worried homeowners are watching rivers and creeks rise. The Kinchafoonee Creek is approaching flood stage now.
EMA officials in Lee and Dougherty Counties do not expect major problems.
The Kinchafoonee Creek level Monday afternoon was at 11.76 feet, and still rising. Flood level is officially 13 feet, and the creek is expected to crest at more than 17 feet late Friday.
But that is still not high enough cause much of a problem in Lee County.
Folks who live on the Kinchafoonee Creek are keeping watch on the water levels, but most of them have seen this many times before, and are taking it all in stride.
Stewart and Trena Champion go the dock behind their Creekside Drive home, to check the level on the Kinchafoonee Creek.
Stewart Champion said "Let's go out and look to see." Trena Champion said "It's getting higher."
The Champions moved on the creek in 2004, and this is about their 10th event. Like true veterans they check their own well established water level marks, the bricks on their steps out of the creek.
Stewart said "See now we got 7 rows of bricks left. And so I just watch and see how fast it's rising. This morning it was about 6 inches under the second step. And now it's an inch under, so it's risen about 5 inches since this morning."
Stewart Champion keeps records of all the water levels at his home, so he can protect it when the creek rises. He can check the water levels on the gauge on his computer, and with his experience know what to expect.
Stewart Champion said "The water at pinewood reading we have about 22, maybe 23 hours before that water gets here. It's just a matter of recording it all, and going back and looking."
The Champions predict the creek will crest Friday, above their dock, maybe into their yard, but not much.
Stewart Champion said "I'll have to go down there and move all their furniture off there. Trena wanted me to do it yesterday while it was pretty, but I said no."
The Champions know flooding is part of life on the creek, but they say it's worth it.
Trena Champion said "Thought about moving, really did in 2005. But he talked me into staying, and I'm glad, because I love it."
Stewart Champion said "It's worth it all. We love it out here. We absolutely love it out here."
So they watch the creek get faster and rise higher, but this time trust the water will not cause any major problems in their home.
Trena said what they are concerned about are their South Georgia neighbors who are having flooding issues. They know this time they are blessed the flood waters will not get high enough to bother them.
Creekside Drive homeowners San Arnold and Jeannette Holloway are also keeping watch on the Kinchafoonee, but are not concerned.
Behind Arnold's home right by the creek his father placed the old totem pole from the original Albany High School, and noted the high water mark on it during the 1994 flood.
It show that this rain event is a long, long way from those 500 year flood levels. "I'm not concerned about it one bit. I really don't think it's going to make it," said Arnold.
He's a veteran who has seen it so many times before. We asked if he keeps an eye on the gauge using the computer? "My mom does," he said.
Arnold and Holloway say they know living by the creek there is always a chance their property could flood, but they aren't letting it get to them.
Copyright 2013 WALB. All rights reserved.
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 Worldnow and WALB, a Raycom Media Station. 
