But as the heavy rains from Monday flooded the first floor of the complex, Ms. Sorg said she and her toddler were hip-high in water within minutes.
"We were soaked," she said. "Everything is under water."
Ms. Sorg, along with 19 other Waldan Chase apartment residents, were evacuated from the complex by emergency workers as Cherokee County braced for some of the worst flooding it's ever seen.
The flooding across the county forced emergency management officials to open a shelter at the Cherokee Recreation and Parks Agency's recreation center at the South Annex on Main Street in Woodstock.
Along with Waldan Chase apartments residents, 27 people were evacuated from the Avonlea at Towne Lake Apartments near Stonebridge Parkway in Towne Lake and 101 people were evacuated from hotels and medical offices on Parkway 575 in Woodstock, according to Woodstock Fire Chief Dave Soumas.
Late Tuesday afternoon, the fire department still was assessing whether Waldan Chase residents would be able to return to their apartments.
Residents in Avonlea have been allowed to return, but those staying in hotels on Parkway 575 only were allowed to return and collect belongings.
Several businesses and offices within the vicinity of Parkway 575 at Highway 92 also were closed Tuesday due to flooding.
On Monday, more than 60 people were registered at the shelter set up in the recreation center gym, according to Hal Simmons, shelter manager for the American Red Cross, which set up operations there.
On Tuesday, 36 people still were registered at the shelter.
Simmons said many people left the shelter on Tuesday as they found family and friends with whom they could temporarily hang their hats.
Medical personnel are on hand at the shelter for residents with pre-existing health conditions, and evacuees are being given food and water.
Simmons said there are no plans to close the shelter anytime soon. However, he said the Red Cross will begin re-evaluating the shelter's existence if the need continues to decline.
"We'll stay open as long as we need to," he said.
While the Red Cross isn't accepting direct donations, Simmons urged those who want to help to give to local churches and nonprofit organizations.
Local businesses that specialize in cleanup from disasters said they've been bombarded with calls since Monday regarding water damage to homes.
Benny Carter, who's in charge of business development for Southeast Restoration Group in Holly Springs, said his office received more than 80 calls on Monday asking for help with water damage.
Carter said the majority of the calls are from people who have flooding in their homes and basements.
The damage being reported is extensive, he said, ranging from minor flooding in the basement to as much as four feet of water in homes.
"This is the most severe we've seen in several years," Carter said of the flooding.
Carter, who said he's finding out many homeowners do not have flood insurance, said it will take days for people to discover the damage. The company also will have to wait until the water recedes to begin its work.
"It's been a difficult time for everyone," he said.
Katharine Miller, office and marketing manager with Remco Solutions in Holly Springs, said she easily had more than 100 calls since Monday reporting water damage related to the flooding.
Many of the homeowners, she said, have had foundation leaks, ceiling and wall leaks. They live in areas where creeks and rivers crested and spilled into their homes.
"This is historic," Ms. Miller said of the flooding, adding the damage reported ranges from a few inches to a few feet.
She said one home, located near a lake, had its basement flooded with water - and fish - from the body of water.
Like Carter, Ms. Miller said many homeowners don't have flood insurance and probably won't receive reimbursement for the damage unless it's from a leak.
"A lot of people will lose a lot," she said.
The time needed to clean up the damage will vary, she said, depending on how extensive the damage is and how deep the water is.
One Woodstock resident was able to see how fast the waters rose on Highway 92 near Parkway 575.
As Victorine Donahue was volunteering at the Revive Consignment Store, she witnessed the shopping center's parking lot become flooded by waters from Noonday Creek.
She said she watched as a small black car was engulfed by the rising water.
"You could barely see the roof of the car," she said.
At the shelter, Ms. Sorg said she's anxiously waiting to hear if she will be able to go back to her Waldan Chase apartment anytime soon.
Worst-case scenario, she said she will have to call friends to find a place where she, her fiance, Chris Botts, and her daughter can stay.
The situation isn't so bright for Alma Campos and her family.
Mrs. Campos, who also had an apartment on the first floor at Waldan Chase, said she doesn't have any other family to stay with until she figures out a more permanent solution.
The family moved to Woodstock from California 11 months ago.
Her 15-year-old daughter, Alicia Zetin, was at home when the flooding occurred.
Alicia said she only was able to grab clothes for her younger brother and sister before being evacuated from the apartment.
"It was a really scary experience," she said.
Mrs. Campos said she never expected anything like this to happen in Woodstock. She also said she was unaware of Waldan Chase's history of flooding.
"They could have warned me," she said.
Now, Mrs. Campos said she and her family will remain at the shelter until they figure out something.
Moving back to California, she said, isn't a reasonable option.
"I don't have enough resources to go back," she said.
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