Record River Flooding Forces Evacuations Near the Georgia-Tennessee Line

A flash flooding emergency is developing over portions of the Southeast as heavy rain grips the region. Read on for the details of this dire situation unfolding near the Georgia and Tennessee border.

Flash Flooding Emergency Unfolding in the Southeast

Dozens of people have been rescued over the last several hours near the Georgia and Tennessee border after over a foot of rain fell across the region. Flash flood emergencies were issued early Thursday for Polk County, Tennessee, and across the border in Fannin County, Georgia. Storms erupting on the southern flank of a cross-country weather event are responsible for the heavy rain and resulting flooding.

McCaysville, Georgia, is ground zero for the worst of the flooding. Emergency crews are on the scene performing boat and aerial rescues. Residents of some neighborhoods in McCaysville were forced to evacuate with just a moment's notice at about 3 am local time.  Swiftwater rescue teams have been deployed to the community as water continues to surge into homes and businesses.

The City of McCaysville declared a state of emergency at about 5 am. Impacted individuals are being instructed to go to a county recreation center that is serving as an emergency shelter. Floodwater is covering State Route 5 near the Tennessee border, making travel difficult throughout the region.

The intersection near West Tennessee Avenue and East Tennessee Avenue in McCaysville has been hit particularly hard. Residents in this area were ordered to leave immediately. “We are urging everyone to STAY AWAY FROM THE CITY OF McCAYSVILLE. Do not attempt to enter the city, bypass barricades, or interfere with ongoing emergency operations,” McCaysville Public Safety Director Michael Earley posted on Facebook.

The Chattanooga Fire Swiftwater Rescue Team was also dispatched to McCaysville. The fire department confirmed that one of its teams rescued nearly a dozen people and two dogs.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp confirmed that a multi-agency response was underway by early Thursday to assist the rescue efforts in both his state and neighboring Tennessee. This response includes the use of aircraft and rescue boats.

National Guard troops were deployed to Polk County, Tennessee, to assist with the aerial rescues. The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency said that its Tennessee State Emergency Operations Center has been activated to a Level 4 in response to the mass flooding in Polk County.

Also in Tennessee, authorities with the City of Copperhill, Tennessee, said late Wednesday that it is closed and told people to steer clear of the downtown area and the river.

The flooding is being blamed for a propane tank catching fire and exploding outside a business in McCaysville. In addition, Fannin County officials said that at least six buildings caught fire late Wednesday as a result of lightning strikes.

Checking Out the Eye-Popping Rain Totals

Water levels in the Toccoa River surged more than 15 feet overnight, hitting a height of 18.05 feet. This easily eclipsed the previous record of 17.8 feet notched in February of 1990.

A weather station in the community of Blue Ridge recorded a whopping 11.19 inches of rain in a period of just five hours. Multiple weather stations in Georgia recorded over a foot of rain, including a top reading of 14.4 inches in Cherry Log.

The bulk of the rain fell to the south of the area experiencing the flooding. Several rivers flow north out of the southern Appalachian Mountains and into northern Georgia and Tennessee.

Looking ahead, the forecast is predicting drier conditions to build over the Southeast by the end of the week. Little to no rain is in the forecast for the weekend, giving rivers and streams the time to recede. For example, McCaysville is forecast to see mostly sunny skies and highs that hover at about the 70-degree mark through the weekend.

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