Florida

Map of rainfall totals associated with Tropical Depression Six

The depression dropped heavy rainfall to the north of its path, peaking at 20.84 in (529 mm) in DeFuniak Springs.^[4] Precipitation from the depression contributed significantly to making the month of July one of the wettest on record in the Florida Panhandle. The region had its rainiest July since 1923, while Pensacola experienced its second wettest July, behind only 1940.^[5] A number of rivers and creeks remained in excess of their banks for several days. To the west of the Apalachicola River, nearly all drainages experienced significant swelling.^[6] Several homes in Pensacola Beach were flooded by the immense precipitation,^[7] while the roof of a restaurant collapsed under the weight of water collecting on top of it.^[5] On Santa Rosa Island, the sewage system overflowed into Pensacola Bay. A combination of above average tides and heavy rainfall caused the collapse of a 1,000 feet (300 m) section of sand along the Intracoastal Waterway, temporarily blocking barge traffic between Pensacola and Panama City.^[7] In Pensacola, high water was reported at Naval Air Station.^[5] Near Ensley, a tornado briefly touched down, damaging several mobile homes and knocking over some trees and power lines.^[7] In Milton, the Blackwater River rose 1.5 ft (0.46 m) in a 3-hour period.^[7] In Okaloosa County, the Shoal River, a tributary of Yellow River, crested around 15 ft (4.6 m), 1 ft (0.30 m) higher than the record height set in 1940. At Eglin Air Force Base, personnel and Vietnamese refugees repaired leaking tents and drilled holes in the plywood floors to drain the water.^[8] In the Niceville–Valparaiso area, a number of streets were damaged, while the portions of the sewer system was put out of commission.^[9]

In Walton County, several highways were closed due to high water, including the entire length of State Road 20 and a portion of State Road 2. A small fish pond dam burst in DeFuniak Springs, flooding some property but no buildings or homes.^[10] Residents living near Alaqua Creek fled their homes after the creek went 6 to 8 ft (1.8 to 2.4 m) beyond its banks.^[11] On July 31, the creek crested at 21.35 ft (6.51 m), approximately 3 ft (0.91 m) higher than any previous record height.^[6] Flooding in Freeport forced at least 25 families to be rescued from their homes.^[9] Choctawhatchee Bay, which was reportedly at its highest level in 20 years, overflowed above the bulkheads, flooding several buildings with up to 4 in (100 mm) of water.^[7] Nearly all roads in northern Okaloosa and Walton counties were closed,^[11] while several homes in low-lying areas of southern Okaloosa County were flooded after drains failed.^[12] Further east, in Washington County, State Road 79 was closed at two locations due to water inundation.^[10] At Deerpoint Lake in Bay County, the water rose as much as 7 ft (2.1 m) at some locations, flooding nearby lawns and homes.^[13] In Wakulla County, 17 people evacuated as the Sopchoppy and Wakulla rivers rose.^[14]

Throughout Florida, about 500 homes suffered flood damage, 22 of which were destroyed, with 188 businesses, homes, and trailers damaged in Okaloosa and Santa Rosa counties alone.^[7] At least 60 families were left homeless.^[15] The floodwaters swept away bridges, leaving three state roads impassible.^[15] Two deaths were reported,^[16] one of which occurred after a small boat capsized in St. Joseph Bay.^[8] Flood damage in Bay, Gulf, Holmes, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, and Walton counties reached about $8.5 million, including $3.2 million to roads and public works and $3 million to agriculture.^[7]

Elsewhere

Flooding extended northward into Alabama. In Brewton, about 50 people were evacuated after Murder Creek began to swell. The creek crested at 16.7 ft (5.1 m) on August 1, about 3 ft (0.91 m) short of the record height set in April. Ten buildings and homes were flooded, while overall damage to public and private property reached an estimated $300,000. In East Brewton, several business were inundated with 3 to 4 ft (0.91 to 1.22 m) of water.^[6] At Geneva, the Choctawhatchee River, normally ranging 4 to 5 ft (1.2 to 1.5 m) in height during that time of the year, reached 25.15 ft (7.67 m) by August 1 and rose at a rate of about 8 in (200 mm) per hour.^[17] Residents of Geneva evacuated as the town began flooding, before returning to their homes by August 3 while some roads were still inundated, but the major highways were open to traffic.^[18] One death occurred in the state after a 13-year-old boy fell into a drainage ditch near Mobile.^[19]

In Mississippi, about 50 families in the vicinity of the Biloxi River were evacuated as the river threatened to exceed its banks, while at least 70 families fled their homes in Moss Point. Water entered about a dozen homes there. Further north, about 100 residences were evacuated in Canton, where some businesses suffered water damage. A total of 12 homes in Vicksburg were flooded.^[20]