Catastrophic Flooding Engulfs North Georgia and Southern Tennessee, Triggering Rescues and Evacuations

Water rescues and evacuations are actively underway in North Georgia as flash flood emergencies, the most severe level of flood warning, inundate parts of North Georgia and southern Tennessee. Residents are being urged to follow the storm's progression in real-time as conditions rapidly change.

The critical flash flood emergencies are concentrated in McCaysville, Georgia, and Copperhill, Tennessee, situated on the Georgia-Tennessee border. These areas are experiencing record flooding along the Ocoee River in Tennessee, which becomes the Toccoa River once it crosses into Georgia. The river's crest, recorded just after 6:00 a.m. ET in McCaysville and Copperhill, surpassed the previous record flood level set in 1990. The National Weather Service has classified this event as a “catastrophic flood event” for both towns.

McCaysville has declared a state of emergency and is closed until further notice, according to Police Chief Michael Earley. "We’re actively trying to water rescue people, and we’ve still got several people trapped in homes that we’re trying to get to," Earley stated to CNN affiliate Atlanta News First. "The water keeps rising, so just bear with us as much as you can and please say a prayer for them and their families." Fannin County, where McCaysville is located, reported numerous residents requiring evacuation early Thursday morning, as confirmed by the county’s emergency management. Evacuation orders were issued for residents on West Tennessee Avenue and East Tennessee Avenue in McCaysville, where a Georgia DOT camera captured streets and buildings submerged by the rising river waters. Chief Earley emphasized the urgency in a social media post: “DO NOT DELAY YOUR EVACUATION. LEAVE THE AREA NOW.”

A separate flash flood emergency was also issued overnight for other sections of Fannin County and Gilmer County in Georgia. Emergency management officials in both counties reported widespread flooding, with multiple homes inundated and some completely surrounded by water, necessitating water rescues.

Widespread rainfall totals ranging from 3 to 6 inches were recorded across parts of North Georgia from slow-moving overnight storms, with isolated areas receiving over 8 inches. Some rain gauges measured up to 6 inches of rain in just a six-hour period. This level of rainfall is statistically rare, estimated to be at least a 1-in-200-year event, carrying only a 0.5% chance of occurrence in any given year under normal circumstances. Experts note that such extreme rainfall events are becoming more frequent due to rising global temperatures, which allow the atmosphere to hold more moisture.

While the heavy rain has ceased across northern Georgia and southern Tennessee, and no further downpours are anticipated through the weekend, the threat of dangerous river flooding persists throughout the day. CNN Lead Meteorologist Brandon Miller contributed to this report.