Record flood leaves 80 rescued in McCaysville
The Toccoa River breached historic levels Thursday, forcing a mandatory curfew and state of emergency in north Georgia.
By Marco Alvarez ·
Swiftwater teams pulled 80 people from rooftops and trapped positions in McCaysville, Georgia, on Thursday. Officials confirmed the rescues as the Toccoa River, which runs adjacent to the town center, crested at a record high of more than 18 feet.
Residents began clearing debris from downtown streets on Friday. The water has receded, but the damage remains extensive. Dozens of homes and commercial structures were destroyed, and vehicles were washed from their parking spots. Local restaurants and a family-owned grocery store sustained heavy water damage, leaving interiors nearly unrecognizable.
Fannin County schools remain closed on Friday. A mandatory curfew runs from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Governor Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency for Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, and Union counties. The McCaysville Water System is offline, and a boil water advisory is in effect for the area.
City officials will distribute drinking water from the building behind McCaysville City Hall. The distribution point is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday. The National Weather Service classifies the storm as a 1-in-1,000-year rainfall event.
This is the second major flood to strike the city in four months. An August surge previously shut down the police station and post office. The newly renovated police department had just reopened when the Thursday floodwaters struck again.
