Record Flooding Hits Georgia-Tennessee Border Towns, Prompting Dozens of Rescues
Heavy thunderstorms caused record-breaking flash flooding overnight in McCaysville, Georgia, and Copperhill, Tennessee, twin towns situated on the state border. The Toccoa River, which flows between the two communities, swelled to a record high of 18 feet, exceeding the catastrophic flood level by 2 feet. This deluge, with some areas receiving 8 to 10 inches of rain, submerged buildings up to their rooflines in parts of downtown McCaysville and Copperhill. Emergency responders conducted at least 57 swift water rescues in Georgia and 68 in Tennessee, evacuating dozens of residents from homes and businesses. McCaysville Police Chief Michael Earley reported that one police car was swept away by the floodwaters. The flooding also led to power and cellphone outages, the shutdown of McCaysville's water treatment plant, and a boil water advisory. This event marks the second significant flood for McCaysville in three months, with the downtown area having been inundated in August as well.