When the Creeks Rise is a community journalism project documenting flooding in Atlanta—its causes, its consequences, and the residents fighting for solutions.

The name is a play on the old Southern saying “God willing and the creek don’t rise.” For generations, that phrase has captured a simple truth: Even the best-laid plans can be upended by forces beyond our control. But in Atlanta today, when the creeks rise, it’s not just an act of nature—and it’s not always due to forces beyond our control. Often, flooding in our neighborhoods is the result of decades of policy decisions, rapid development, buried waterways that still shape where floodwaters flow, and a pattern of underinvestment that has left some homes more vulnerable to flooding than others.

This project brings together rigorous reporting and historical context to shine a light on an issue that affects communities across the city. Through coverage of public meetings, longform features, photo essays, interactive maps, and available resources, we’re creating a comprehensive record of how, where, and why Atlanta floods and how residents are responding.

We’re documenting the voices of people who’ve watched the water rise, the patterns of development that prioritize growth over real investment, and the policy decisions that determine which neighborhoods flood when it rains and which don’t. This work is about transparency, accountability, and civic participation.

When the Creeks Rise is a pilot program focused on community-centered journalism and civic engagement around growth and infrastructure decisions. We work with citizen journalists—Documenters who cover public meetings and Development Watchers who track building projects and land use changes—to create accessible records of the proceedings that shape our city. By publishing their reports and maintaining a hub of meeting notices and zoning information, we’re working to ensure that residents aren’t left out of these pivotal conversations.

This is more than a reporting project. It’s a call to action and an invitation for you to share your story, stay informed, and make your voice heard.