By Islam El-Sakka
Thunderstorms overnight caused record flooding in the twin towns of McCaysville, Georgia, and Copperhill, Tennessee, submerging buildings to their rooflines and prompting dozens of water rescues on Thursday. Emergency responders rescued about 40 people overnight and an additional five to six on Thursday morning as the Toccoa River reached a record 18 feet, two feet above the catastrophic flood stage.
Record rainfall and river levels
Between 8 and 10 inches of rain fell overnight in the north Georgia mountains, swelling the Toccoa River and its tributaries. The river gauge in Copperhill, a town of fewer than 500 residents, recorded the historic crest. The Tennessee Valley Authority managed water levels at three hydroelectric dams downstream on the Ocoee River.
Rescue operations and impact
Rescue crews used boats and motorized rafts to navigate downtown streets submerged under 6 to 7 feet of water. One firefighter suffered a minor injury, and several residents were treated for hypothermia and shock. The flooding shut down McCaysville's water treatment plant, triggering a boil-water advisory, and left heavy equipment inaccessible. Cellphone and power outages complicated house-to-house searches and aerial surveillance by helicopter and drones.
Community recovery challenged
The disaster compounds damage from an August flood that inundated the police station, post office, and other buildings. The renovated police building had reopened just last week. McCaysville Police Chief Michael Earley described the repeated flooding as devastating, especially as the town prepared for Christmas events and a parade. Water began receding by late Thursday morning, but officials warned that floodwaters remain extremely dangerous and conditions could worsen even after rain stops.
