Record Flooding Triggers Rescues, Evacuations in Georgia, Tennessee

Slow-moving overnight storms dropped heavy rain on north Georgia Wednesday into Thursday, causing flash flooding along the Toccoa River at McCaysville, Georgia, and Copperhill, Tennessee. Police Chief Michael Earley said more than 30 rescues were done overnight. He said downtown water stood 6 to 7 feet high, covered some home roofs, and that rescue boats struggled in the rush. Earley said he had never seen flooding like this and asked for anyone willing to help. The National Weather Service cited 3 to 5 inches of rain in McCaysville; a wire summary put regional totals at 3 to 6 inches. Local reporting said the Toccoa River crested at 17.73 feet by 8 a.m. Thursday, just shy of record height, while a wire summary said flooding surpassed the 1990 record. McCaysville declared a state of emergency and closed. Fannin County Emergency Management Agency said numerous residents still needed evacuation from areas crews could not reach and warned that floodwaters remained extremely dangerous after the rain stopped. Schools in Fannin and Gilmer counties canceled. A National Weather Service flash flood emergency for McCaysville ran until 9 a.m. Thursday. Wire accounts also reported an emergency shelter opened and one man swept away in his car.