North Georgia Flooding Kills Driver, Prompts 100 Rescues

Floodwaters swept a vehicle away on a route called Old CCC Camp Road, located in Murray County, Georgia, and the driver was later found dead, state emergency officials said on November 6. The victim’s identity has not been released. One other injury has been reported in Murray County in connection with the flooding.

Emergency crews carried out 100 rescues during the weather event: Fannin County accounted for 97, while Gilmer County had three. Teams from several counties, along with other rescue groups and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, helped people trapped in homes.

The flooding hit North Georgia late Thursday into Friday after heavy runoff swelled rivers and mountain creeks. In Fannin County, the Toccoa River reached 18 feet, flooding downtown McCaysville, submerging businesses and disrupting the city’s drinking water system. Washed-out roads and damaged culverts also left some communities cut off.

A state of emergency covers Murray, Fannin, Gilmer and Union counties. Gilmer County separately declared a local emergency after floodwaters damaged roads and culverts. Officials reported that Union County escaped notable storm damage.

The Red Cross opened a shelter at the Fannin County Recreation Center in Blue Ridge. Federal authorities temporarily restricted flights over the disaster area to protect emergency operations. State resources, including rescue teams, road crews and Georgia State Defense Force volunteers, are supporting recovery efforts.