Record floods in Georgia turn catastrophic

On November 5, 2026, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency for Fannin, Gilmer, Union, and Murray counties due to heavy floods. The storms dropped between 3 to 5 inches (8 to 13 centimeters) of rain in the mountainous region where the Toccoa River flows through McCaysville, Georgia, and Copperhill, Tennessee, causing life-threatening conditions and flash flood warnings on both sides.

Overnight rescue teams completed over 30 rescues in McCaysville as water levels rose rapidly. The City of McCaysville declared a state of emergency just after 5 AM, with local police asking residents to evacuate immediately from some neighborhoods. In Tennessee's Polk County and Georgia’s Fannin County, flash flood emergencies were issued early Thursday morning.

The National Weather Service reported that the town of McCaysville, home to around 1,000 residents, received significant rainfall overnight, triggering hazardous conditions. The city of Copperhill also closed down as a precautionary measure. Both states coordinated efforts with multi-agency response teams and local first responders to handle evacuations and rescues despite dangerous flooding scenarios.