An early-morning thunderstorm caused flooding in multiple areas in Talladega and St. Clair counties Saturday. Torrential rainfall beginning at around 1 a.m. forced area firefighters into action, made more than a dozen roads impassable and resulted in the cancellation of three community events — Pell City’s Third Annual Logan Martin LakeFest and Boat Show, the Munford Car and Tractor Show and the Munford Farmer’s Market. In St. Clair County, Fox Hollow subdivision on Fox Run Circle seemed to be hit the hardest. According to St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency director Ellen Tanner, nine homes in the subdivision were flooded, causing an estimated $200,000 in damages. “Most of these homes are owned by young couples,” Tanner said. “It’s just heartbreaking what they are going through. Water can ruin just about everything a family has. These families are all working hard right now to salvage what they can. We will stay in touch with them daily to determine their needs.” The Pell City Community Center on 19th Street was also flooded. The Talladega Fire Department responded to multiple emergencies, evacuating a woman, child and four blind people from houses on Coffee Street. After the rescue, the firefighters took the evacuees back to the fire station and gave them some blankets to keep warm. “When we arrived on the scene, the water was steadily rising into the houses,” Capt. Ronny Davis said. “We started waking people up and evacuating them from the houses as quick as possible. In the second and third homes, the blind evacuees were unaware of the water level rising. Inside the third house, the water had gotten as high as 3 feet.” On West, East and Court streets, Talladega firefighters used a boat to evacuate eight people, several of whom were stranded motorists. A stranded motorist whose vehicle was swept off the road by flood waters was also rescued near the National Guard Armory on Broadway Avenue. Firefighters assisted at the scene of a motor vehicle accident at the corner of Jemison and 19th streets, rescuing a motorist from a vehicle turned on its side. Residents in a house on Cherry Street and a house at West and Coosa streets were evacuated due to gas leaks caused by rising water levels. Firefighters continued their work on Coosa Street by rescuing another stranded motorist. The department received two calls regarding downed trees, one at Mountain View Road and one at Wall Street. The downed tree at Wallace Street brought down some power lines, catching the tree on fire. Firefighters secured the area while workers from Alabama Power responded to the downed lines. As of 2 p.m. Saturday, Tanner said U.S. 78 from Eden to Interstate 20, U.S. 174 from Odenville to Mt. Moriah Road in Pell City, Mineral Springs Road in Pell City and Cook Springs Cut-Off Road between Mountain Top Loop and Wolf Creek Road remained impassable in the St. Clair County area. In Talladega County, Scott Murphree, alert notification manager for the Emergency Management Agency, confirmed a section of Alabama 21 in Munford and sections of Eastaboga Road, Brickstore Road, and Curry Station Road near Choccolocco Creek were closed. Murphree recommended the public remain watchful of the weather due to potential for more rain occurring Saturday and during the day today. “Due to the vast amount of rain that fell this morning, we would like to advise citizens that live along waterways, creeks and rivers to pay close attention to water levels as they may continue to rise,” Murphree said. “Also, roadways along waterways, creeks and rivers may become impassable. If you leave your home, please do not drive through standing water or go around barriers.” No significant incidents were reported in Sylacauga or Childersburg.

TALLADEGA COUNTY — After a yearlong deployment, most of which was spent in Afghanistan, the Alabama Army National Guard’s 1/167th Infantry Battalion is back on American soil. The unit of about 600 soldiers was sent off with well wishes last June, and now area municipalities are celebrating its return with homecoming ceremonies Monday. Sylacauga will host a celebration Monday at 1 p.m. at Legion Stadium, where many of the 100 soldiers from Company D will be reunited with their families for the first time. Another event will take place Monday at 2 p.m. at Talladega Superspeedway, honoring about 240 troops from Battalion Headquarters, Headquarters Company and Company E in Talladega, as well as Oxford’s F Company. The unit arrived in the United States on May 8 and has been at Camp Shelby, Miss., since then. They will leave Mississippi Monday morning and Company D should be in Sylacauga by 1 p.m., where the city is pulling out all the stops to welcome soldiers home, Mayor Doug Murphree said. Their buses will be met with American flags along U.S. 280 and a police escort through town. Yellow ribbons will be placed down Fort Williams Street and Broadway Avenue, as well as a platform fire truck wielding a large American flag. “We just want to roll out the red carpet and show them how proud we are for them for what they’ve done for us,” Murphree said. “We want everyone who can and will to be at the stadium and show support for them.” At the stadium, there will be patriotic music performed by the Sylacauga High School band, featured speakers and a welcome from Murphree. The program will last about 30 minutes. Company D Family Readiness Group chairwoman Rebecca Milam said many of the soldiers were able to see their families for the first time over Mother’s Day weekend, but for some, it will be their first chance to reunite. Milam said the soldiers and their families appreciate what the city is doing to show support. “They are going all out for them, and it is just going to be a great homecoming,” she said. In Talladega, soldiers will also be escorted by police to the speedway. There will be several special guest speakers at the ceremony, including a prominent politician. While in Afghanistan, the 1/167th completed 12,000 missions and safely transported nearly 43,000 personnel across more than 142,648 treacherous miles, according to a press release. The 1/167th has played a role in every major American war since the Civil War. The Alabama National Guard has called more than 18,000 personnel to active duty since 9/11 and remains a top contributor among the nation’s National Guard.