Georgia Town Flooded: State of Emergency Declared

A state of emergency has been declared in McCaysville, a tourist town in the north Georgia Mountains, due to severe flash flooding. The deluge inundated dozens of homes and businesses, prompting significant cleanup efforts that are expected to take weeks or months.

Emergency services rescued nineteen people from creek and riverside residences submerged by high water. Approximately fifty homes and businesses suffered damage after seven inches of rain fell overnight. The town's water treatment plant was also impacted, resulting in a boil water advisory.

Thousands of water bottles were delivered to assist residents, with officials prioritizing access to clean water. Business owners are assessing extensive damage to property, merchandise, and food supplies, with some reporting losses of up to ten years of inventory.

City officials cited inadequate drainage from a nearby highway construction project as a contributing factor to the flooding, as construction materials reportedly blocked storm drains. However, the Georgia Department of Transportation has disputed this claim.