Record Flooding Forces Rescues Along Georgia–Tennessee Border

Floodwater surrounds border towns

November 5, 2026 · 12:40 p.m. Central / 1:40 p.m. Eastern

Heavy rain caused record flooding in the neighboring towns of McCaysville, Georgia, and Copperhill, Tennessee, on Thursday, sending emergency crews out in boats and forcing dozens of residents to safety.

Some buildings were submerged to their rooflines, and the river at Copperhill reached about 18 feet Thursday morning, The Associated Press reported. Authorities said water had begun to recede by late morning, but warned that floodwaters remained dangerous.

McCaysville Police Chief Michael Earley told AP about 40 people were rescued overnight and another five or six on Thursday morning. One firefighter suffered a minor injury, and several residents were treated for suspected hypothermia and shock, he said. Those figures may change.

Rescue crews and damaged services

Rescuers went house to house, using a helicopter and drones as well as boats; power and cellphone outages made the work harder, Earley told AP. The flooding shut down McCaysville’s water treatment plant and prompted a boil-water advisory, AP reported.

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency said at 8:25 a.m. Central that it had activated the state emergency operations center at Level 4 because of flooding in Polk County. At that time, it expected flooding to persist into the evening and urged residents to avoid flooded roads and follow local guidance.

WSMV reported that the Tennessee National Guard was conducting aerial rescues at the state agency’s request. Residents should check local emergency officials and the National Weather Service for current conditions and instructions.

Rain on mountain communities

The Tennessee Valley Authority told AP that as much as 8 to 10 inches of rain fell overnight between Blue Ridge and Ellijay, Georgia. Runoff swelled waterways feeding the Toccoa River, which flows toward the Ocoee in Tennessee.

The flooding comes after another damaging flood in McCaysville in August. The town’s renovated police building had reopened only the week before Thursday’s flood, the police chief told AP.

Where the flooding occurred

The star marks the approximate McCaysville–Copperhill border area.

Thursday’s response

Times are approximate. Eastern time is one hour ahead of Central time.

1. Overnight Heavy rain fell across the mountain watershed; police reported dozens of overnight rescues, according to AP.
2. Morning, Eastern The river gauge at Copperhill reached about 18 feet, AP reported.
3. 8:25 a.m. Central Tennessee’s emergency agency announced a Level 4 activation for Polk County flooding.
4. Late morning, Eastern Water began receding, a Fannin County emergency management spokesperson told AP, while officials continued to warn of danger.

Tennessee’s emergency update

The state emergency agency’s post described conditions and guidance as of 8:25 a.m. Central Thursday; conditions and official instructions can change.

Read the Tennessee emergency agency’s post on X

Open the original post if the embed does not load.

Sources and visual credits

Associated Press · WSMV · Tennessee Emergency Management Agency on X.

Hero and thumbnail: generated conceptual paper-cut illustration, not a photograph or reconstruction of the flooding. Map: OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.