McCaysville, GA Flooding: Record Toccoa River Crest, 57 Rescued, State of Emergency

Catastrophic flash flooding tore through McCaysville, Georgia, and neighboring Copperhill, Tennessee, overnight into Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, after heavy mountain rain sent the Toccoa River to a record crest. Fannin County emergency officials said 57 people were rescued. Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency for Fannin, Gilmer, Murray and Union counties, and McCaysville issued its own local emergency while closing the city to unauthorized visitors.

How high did the Toccoa River get?

FOX 5 Atlanta reported that the Toccoa River at McCaysville reached 18.05 feet around 7 a.m. Thursday, breaking the previous record of 17.75 feet set on Feb. 16, 1990. McCaysville’s police chief said water was six to seven feet deep in parts of the downtown business district, with some areas flooded above rooftops.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, citing National Weather Service meteorologist Luke Culver, said the hardest-hit areas south of McCaysville near the Fannin-Gilmer line saw roughly 8 to 11 inches of rain in 24 hours. Much of that rainfall drained into the Toccoa basin that feeds McCaysville and the Tennessee border communities.

How many people were rescued?

Robert Poole, spokesperson for Fannin County Emergency Management, told FOX 5 that 57 people were rescued overnight by 13 swift-water teams using nine boats. No additional people were confirmed trapped by late morning, but crews planned to use helicopters and drones to check areas that remained inaccessible.

Police Chief Michael Earley said some residents were hospitalized for hypothermia or shock, and a firefighter was evaluated for leg pain, but no major injuries had been reported as of Thursday morning. Evacuated residents were sheltered at the recreation center in Blue Ridge. U.S. Army Rangers from Camp Merrill assisted with helicopter surveys, FOX 5 reported.

State of emergency and boil-water advisory

McCaysville’s mayor and City Council declared a state of emergency and closed access points into the city, including River Road, Mobile Road, Blue Ridge Drive and Highway 68 from Tennessee. Only authorized public safety personnel were allowed in.

Gov. Kemp declared a state of emergency covering Fannin, Gilmer, Murray and Union counties as Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency coordinated a multi-agency response with the Departments of Public Safety and Natural Resources, according to FOX 5 and the AJC.

The city’s water treatment plant was completely shut down, affecting a system serving nearly 4,000 customers, including a hospital and school, Chief Earley told FOX 5. A boil-water advisory was issued, and power and cellphone service were also disrupted in places. Schools in Fannin and Gilmer counties were closed Thursday.

Damage and secondary hazards

Floodwaters inundated homes, businesses and government buildings. Earley said the police department and post office — which had only recently reopened after an August flash flood — were damaged again, and this event was far more destructive than the earlier storm. A police cruiser was swept away. Floating debris included vehicles and propane tanks; one burning propane tank exploded multiple times near a church Thursday morning while firefighters worked to protect the building, FOX 5 reported.

Emergency crews also fought multiple structure fires amid the flooding, Poole said, including several reported within minutes of one another while water supplies were strained.

By midday, waters were beginning to recede in McCaysville, revealing mud, debris and widespread property damage. Officials urged the public to stay away, avoid barricades and never drive or walk through floodwaters. Anyone still in danger was told to call 911 and move to higher ground.

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