Flash floods trap residents in north Georgia town after overnight storms
McCaysville police reported more than 30 water rescues after 3 to 5 inches of rain submerged homes and blocked emergency access.
By Lorenzo Patterson ·
Rescue crews in McCaysville, Georgia, pulled dozens of people from their homes Thursday morning after overnight thunderstorms sent the Toccoa River over the rooftops of several houses.
The National Weather Service reported that the town received between 3 and 5 inches of rain in a short period. This rapid accumulation created life-threatening flash flooding conditions for the community of approximately 1,000 residents located just across the river from Copperhill, Tennessee.
McCaysville Police Chief Michael Earley said officers conducted more than 30 rescues during the night. He noted that the water was high enough to cover rooflines and that rescue boats struggled to move through the rushing current.
The Fannin County Emergency Management Agency deployed swift water teams to evacuate stranded residents. However, crews could not reach everyone due to the dangerous nature of the flowing water. The agency did not provide a total count of affected individuals or report any injuries at the time of the update.
Local officials warned that the danger persists even after the storms have passed. The emergency management agency posted on social media that floodwaters remain extremely hazardous and conditions can continue to worsen despite the rain stopping.
