Mandatory Curfew Remains in Mccaysville After Life Threatening Flooding Forces Evacuations, Closes Schools and Cuts Water Service Across Fannin County

MCCAYSVILLE, GA — A mandatory curfew is in effect in parts of McCaysville as crews work to recover from severe flooding that prompted evacuations, rescues and widespread closures across Fannin County.

The city said the curfew runs from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. until further notice and covers the downtown business district, East Tennessee Avenue, West Tennessee Avenue and Toccoa Avenue, including nearby homes. Officials said the restrictions are meant to keep people away from damaged areas and give emergency workers space to operate safely.

Overnight rain measured in the 6 to 10 inch range triggered flash flood warnings and set off a large response from local and state agencies. City officials have also closed entrances into McCaysville, while residents in some neighborhoods were ordered to leave immediately early Thursday morning.

Evacuations, rescues and injuries as crews search flooded neighborhoods

McCaysville police Chief Michael Otis Earley said officers and other responders were going house to house to make sure no one was stranded. Drones and helicopters were also being used to look for people who may have climbed onto roofs as floodwaters rose.

Earley said communications were disrupted, power was out and the water plant serving nearly 4,000 customers was down. He said around 46 people had been rescued by 11 a.m., most of them through water rescues, and that some people were taken to hospitals for hypothermia-like conditions.

One firefighter was injured when a propane tank exploded, though Earley said she is expected to recover. The chief said crews were dealing with very difficult conditions because heavy rain made visibility poor overnight.

State emergency declaration expands the response across north Georgia

Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency for Fannin, Gilmer, Murray and Union counties as state and local officials tried to reach isolated residents and coordinate recovery. McCaysville had already declared its own state of emergency Thursday morning.

Kemp said on X that the declaration is intended to make sure emergency personnel have the resources they need as the flooding continues to affect communities in northwest Georgia. State agencies, including the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, are leading the broader response.

Assistance is also coming from the Georgia Department of Public Safety, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, local agencies and Tennessee first responders. Officials warned residents not to assume conditions are safe just because the rain has stopped.

Toccoa River tops its record mark in Copperhill

The Toccoa River, known as the Ocoee River in Tennessee, rose to 18.05 feet Thursday morning at Copperhill, according to a National Weather Service gauge chart. That reading is above the chart’s listed record of 17.8 feet and higher than the major flood threshold of 14 feet.

Flood guidance from the weather service describes catastrophic flooding at 16 feet, with homes, businesses and roads inundated and both bridges between Copperhill and McCaysville overtopped. A forecast issued at 7:03 a.m. said the river was expected to fall through Thursday and drop below flood stage Friday morning.

Officials noted that gauge readings reflect river height at the measurement site, not necessarily the depth of floodwater throughout downtown McCaysville. Even so, the rising water was enough to block roads, affect businesses and complicate rescue efforts.

Schools, courthouse and downtown businesses shut down for the day

Fannin County Schools canceled classes for Thursday because of the storm damage, saying there would be no in-person or virtual instruction. Directors, administrators and 12-month employees were told to report at their usual times if it was safe to do so.

Gilmer County Schools also closed for the day because of flooding and dangerous road conditions, based on updated information from county emergency managers. In addition, the Fannin County courthouse will remain closed Friday because of the damage and recovery work underway.

Earley said rising water affected several downtown businesses and displaced families throughout Fannin County. Police also closed Blue Ridge Drive at the bridge and the Steel Bridge because of flooding, adding to the list of travel disruptions in the area.

Shelter opens and boil water advisory remains in place

An emergency shelter is open at the Fannin County Recreation Center at 370 Tom Boyd Road in Blue Ridge for residents who need a safe place to go. The Red Cross is at the shelter helping families affected by the flooding.

The McCaysville Water System is under a boil water advisory until further notice, and Earley said water distribution is set to begin Friday at the building behind McCaysville City Hall. He said the system remains out of service and that there is no estimated timetable for full restoration.

City leaders are urging people to stay out of McCaysville unless they are authorized to be there. They also asked residents not to drive or walk through floodwaters and to avoid traffic that could interfere with emergency crews trying to reach more people in need.