Kemp declares state of emergency in Union, Fannin, Gilmer, and Murray counties

Governor Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency for Union, Fannin, Gilmer, and Murray counties early Thursday after record flooding swept through the region. The declaration followed intense rainfall that fell from Wednesday night into early Thursday morning.

The Toccoa River, which becomes the Ocoee River after crossing into Tennessee, rose approximately 16 feet in 12 hours. Much of that increase occurred during a three-hour period. The river reached a reported record crest of about 18 feet, a level that surpassed the previous record set in 1990.

Meteorologist Alex Forbes reported that the water spread hundreds of yards beyond its normal channel. The rapid rise left residents with little time to escape. In Copperhill, Tennessee, emergency crews rescued people from flooded homes as roads and downtown businesses disappeared beneath the surface.

Tommy and Sandra Edwards, a retired couple who lived along Fightingtown Creek in Copperhill for more than a decade, woke around 2 a.m. to find their home flooding. Sandra Edwards said she jumped into the living room and saw their belongings floating in the water. "I said, we got to get out now," she recalled. The couple grabbed their dog, Willow, and escaped before water rose above their deck. Tommy Edwards nearly became trapped inside the house.

By Thursday afternoon, the Edwardses' home had suffered extensive damage. Mud and silt covered the floors, and several inches of water remained inside. Three motorcycles were destroyed. The couple could not return home until the floodwaters dropped enough to allow them inside.

In McCaysville, Georgia, another resident woke around 3 a.m. to find his church underwater. He reported that motorcycles, cars, and businesses throughout the downtown area were submerged. He praised local police and firefighters for their quick response to residents needing assistance.

Emergency management officials reported that dozens of people were rescued. Local police, firefighters, and swift-water rescue teams responded to calls for help. U.S. Army Rangers from Camp Merrill in Lumpkin County also assisted with rescue operations. A military helicopter flew over the flooded area with a Ranger positioned outside, searching for anyone who needed assistance.

McCaysville Police Chief Michael Earley said no major injuries had been reported as of Thursday afternoon. Some residents were taken to hospitals for hypothermia. A female firefighter was evaluated for leg pain but was expected to recover. Authorities have not released a final accounting of the number of people displaced or the total number of properties damaged.

As floodwaters began receding, debris became a concern. Propane tanks were spotted lodged beneath bridges along the Toccoa River. In Copperhill, large propane tanks floated along the swollen Ocoee River and Fightingtown Creek. Some tanks washed against hillsides or became trapped in debris piles. Floodwaters also washed out a culvert on West Tennessee Avenue near Fightingtown Creek, leaving the roadway covered in thick silt.