McCaysville, Georgia declares state of emergency as floods force evacuations
The gist
McCaysville's mayor and city council declared a state of emergency and closed all roads into the city amid severe flooding.
Residents along the river were told to evacuate, and the town is still recovering from August floods.
How it unfolded
- Nov 3, 2026A flood control operation in Ocoee has been holding back water in Blue Ridge since Nov. 3, according to TVA's Scott Fiedler.
- Nov 4, 2026 (Wednesday night)The National Weather Service issued a catastrophic flash flood warning, in effect until later Thursday morning.
- Nov 5, 2026 (early Thursday)Heavy overnight rain caused rivers and creeks to rise rapidly, flooding communities and leaving some residents trapped in homes and vehicles; emergency evacuations and swift-water rescues were underway in parts of North Georgia.
Key terms
- state of emergency
- A situation in which a government gains special powers to act for public safety, often declared during disasters or crises.
- Tennessee Valley Authority
- A federally owned U.S. electric utility corporation that manages dams and power supply, mainly in the Tennessee Valley region.
- flash flood warning
- A severe weather alert issued when a sudden, violent flood is imminent or already occurring in an area.
Source: Wikipedia