Forest Park's map changed in 2012, when the city bought 1,170 acres of the former Fort Gillem from the Army for $30 million. The post had operated since 1941 as a quartermaster and ordnance depot before closing in 2011, and its land is now being redeveloped for warehouses, manufacturing and business parks. The Army kept a 250-acre enclave. That mix of homes, apartments and large industrial buildings shapes the kinds of water losses people in this Clayton County city call about.
The Restoration Job is a free connection service with a 24/7 line. Call (888) 317-9980 and we'll connect you with an independent restoration provider that serves Forest Park, for a house, an apartment or a commercial building. The provider is a separate company that does the work.
How the call works: when you call (888) 317-9980, The Restoration Job connects you with an independent restoration provider that serves Forest Park. That provider inspects the damage, explains the scope and quotes the work. The Restoration Job doesn't perform restoration itself. Read our referral disclosure.
Sirens, CodeRED and Severe Weather Warnings
Forest Park's emergency management division runs five outdoor warning sirens, at Jonesboro Road, Main Street, Starr Park, Alder Drive and Fort Gillem, plus one shared with neighboring Lake City. They are tested on the first Wednesday of each month, weather permitting. The city also uses CodeRED to send alerts by phone, email and text.
Sirens are meant for people outdoors, so sign up for CodeRED and keep a weather radio for overnight storms. The National Weather Service office in Peachtree City issues the tornado, severe thunderstorm and flash flood warnings for Clayton County. When a storm passes, check the roof, attic and window frames before the next round of rain arrives.
Water Losses in Warehouses and Commercial Buildings
Large, flat-roofed buildings fail differently from houses. Ponding water on a low-slope roof finds seams and drains, and a single clogged roof drain during a downpour can send water through the deck onto racked inventory. Fire sprinkler lines that freeze or get struck by equipment can release a lot of water quickly.
- Shut the sprinkler zone or water supply only with the fire department or a qualified contractor's guidance.
- Move pallets and electrical equipment away from wet areas, and cut power to affected circuits.
- Document damage before cleanup for your commercial carrier.
Restoration providers handling commercial jobs often bring truck-mounted extraction and large dehumidifiers; see our water extraction page for how that stage works.
Clayton County Creeks and the Upper Flint
Forest Park lies east of the airport, close to where the Flint River begins its run south through Clayton County. The U.S. Geological Survey operates a gauge on the Flint near Lovejoy, in cooperation with the Clayton County Water Authority, measuring a drainage area of 127 square miles. Near its headwaters the river and its tributaries are small, but the area is heavily paved, and runoff from rooftops, parking lots and roads reaches channels fast.
That means flooding here is usually local: storm drains that back up, low spots in parking lots, and water sheeting toward buildings below street level. Check your address on FEMA's flood map, and remember that a standard homeowners or commercial property policy does not cover rising water without separate flood coverage.
Practical Steps for Homes and Apartments
For a burst pipe, overflowing water heater or roof leak at home, stop the source first. Know where your main shutoff is, whether in a meter box at the street, a crawl space or a utility closet. Photograph the damage, then move furniture and rugs off wet floors.
Renters should notify the landlord or property manager in writing and keep a copy. Leaks from an upstairs unit often reach several apartments, so tell neighbors too. A provider doing storm damage cleanup or plumbing-leak drying will typically remove soaked carpet pad, open up wet walls where needed and run dehumidifiers until readings are normal.
Keeping Moisture From Turning Into Mold
Metro Atlanta averages about 50 inches of precipitation a year, and summer humidity keeps damp materials from drying on their own. In closed-up warehouses, stockrooms and apartments, wet drywall and cardboard packaging can grow mold within days. Run air conditioning or dehumidifiers, open wet wall cavities, and get absorbent materials out. Where growth is already visible, mold remediation with containment keeps it from spreading to clean areas.
Neighborhoods and Nearby Communities
The same line also serves nearby communities such as:
- Lake City
- Morrow
- Riverdale
- Jonesboro
- Hapeville
- College Park
- East Point
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I sign up for Forest Park emergency alerts?
Forest Park uses CodeRED, a free notification system that sends alerts about evacuations, outages and other emergencies by phone, email and text. Registration is linked from the city's Emergency Management page. The city's outdoor sirens are tested the first Wednesday of each month, so a siren heard at another time should be treated as a real warning.
Our warehouse roof leaked during a storm. What should we do first?
Get people away from wet electrical equipment, then move inventory and records out of the path of the water. Photograph the roof area and interior damage. Call your roofing contractor for temporary repairs and your commercial insurer to open a claim. A restoration provider can extract standing water and set up drying to protect the slab, walls and remaining stock.
Does Forest Park have flooding from the Flint River?
The Flint River begins nearby, to the west under the airport, so it is a small stream at this point rather than a large river. Flooding in Forest Park is more often caused by intense rainfall overwhelming storm drains and low-lying lots. Look up your address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center to check whether it is in a mapped flood zone.
Who is responsible for water damage in my rental?
Generally, the property owner handles repairs to the building, including plumbing, walls and floors, while your renters insurance covers your belongings. Report leaks promptly in writing so the landlord cannot argue they were not told. If damage makes the unit unsafe, ask the manager about temporary housing, and keep receipts for any expenses.