Key facts
- McCaysville, Georgia, received up to five inches of rain by Thursday morning, the National Weather Service said.
- The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for the area until mid-morning Thursday.
- More than 30 people had been rescued by boats by mid-morning, McCaysville police chief Michael Earley said.
- Georgia governor Brian Kemp said the state emergency management agency was leading a multi-agency response.
- Copperhill, Tennessee, officials issued evacuation warnings for some areas at 3am ET on Thursday.
- A boil water advisory was issued for McCaysville.
Severe storms brought heavy rain and flash flooding to communities across the Georgia-Tennessee border area late on Wednesday and into Thursday morning, forcing dozens of rescues despite hazardous conditions that made evacuations difficult.
McCaysville, in north central Georgia, was deluged with up to five inches (13cm) of rain by Thursday morning, triggering life-threatening flash flooding, the National Weather Service said. The town lies just across the Toccoa River from Copperhill, Tennessee. The NWS issued a flash flood warning for the area until mid-morning Thursday, warning of "life threatening flash flooding of low water crossings, small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses."
Georgia governor Brian Kemp announced on Thursday morning that the state's emergency management agency was leading a "multi-agency response … using both aviation and boat assets, as well as local counties and Tennessee first responders." More than 30 people had been rescued by boats by mid-morning, McCaysville police chief Michael Earley said. "I've never seen flooding like this in my life," Earley said, according to local TV station WSMV, adding that water in some areas was six to seven feet high. One local report later in the morning informally put the number of rescues by water above 50.
Robert Poole, a Fannin county emergency management spokesperson, told WSMV that one rescue effort involved a person trapped in his car. "We currently have a crew looking for a vehicle. A gentleman called in, said he was swept away in his car down a creek," Poole said early on Thursday morning, adding that communications were lost with the man and crews were trying to reach him.
Poole said resources were stretched thin from several structure fires that occurred when lightning moved in, followed by water rescues as rain continued. The agency said on social media: "Please do not let the rain stopping give you a false sense of security. Floodwaters remain extremely dangerous, and conditions can continue to worsen even after the rain has stopped." It also issued a boil water advisory for McCaysville.
Game wardens with the Georgia department of natural resources were assisting state and local first responders with search-and-rescue operations in Fannin and Murray counties, county officials said on Thursday. School closures were announced on Thursday for students at Fannin and Gilmer county schools due to hazardous road conditions. Residents of Copperhill, Tennessee, were also affected; at 3am ET on Thursday, city officials issued evacuation warnings for some areas.