Catastrophic flooding leads to closure of cities in Georgia, Tennessee
The Ocoee River rose to a record 18 feet.
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River → lead → feet
Two cities in Tennessee and Georgia are experiencing catastrophic flooding after 6 to 9 inches of rain fell overnight, leading to the Ocoee River to rise to a record 18.05 feet.
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River → experience → feet
The Ocoee River's previous record crest was 17.8 feet reached in Feb. 16, 1990.
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crest → reach → Feb.
McCaysville, Georgia, and Copperhill, Tennessee, have both closed the cities, ordering residents to evacuate and stay out of the city.
McCaysville has declared a state of emergency and the city closed until further notice amid flooding and dangerous conditions, Police Chief Michael Earley said in a post on social media Thursday morning.
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Earley → close → media
"We are urging everyone to STAY AWAY FROM THE CITY OF McCAYSVILLE.
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We → urge → McCAYSVILLE
Do not attempt to enter the city, bypass barricades, or interfere with ongoing emergency operations," Earley said in a post on social media.
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Earley → attempt → media
Streets in downtown Copperhill were flooded just after 2 a.m. on Thursday.
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Streets → flood → Thursday
Bridges to the city remain closed and shelters are open at Copperhill City Hall and McCaysville City Hall, according to the city.
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shelters → remain → city
Transportation between the two towns has been cut off as both bridges have been topped.
The river has been steadily receding, dropping below 10 feet by 11:30am, into a minor flood stage.
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river → cut → stage
The river is expected to go below the flood stage in the afternoon.
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river → expect → afternoon
A few people were sent to the hospital, but no major injuries have been reported, McCaysville Police Chief Michael Earley said in a press conference Thursday morning.
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Earley → send → conference
A firefighter was injured but is expected to recover, Earley said.
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Earley → injure → ?
First responders still have to actively clear all the homes and a Blackhawk helicopter is now flying overhead to see if any more people need to be rescued, with parts of the city still inaccessible, Earley said.
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Earley → have → city
Some people were rescued from the roof of their homes and rescue teams are actively trying to get a 90-year-old that is stranded on her kitchen table, Earley said.
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Earley → rescue → table
At least 30 to 40 rescues have been made, according to Earley.
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rescues → make → Earley
A lot of vehicles, debris and even a police car have floated down the water, Earley said.
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Earley → float → water
Government buildings, shops and homes have been lost in the flooding, Earley said.
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Earley → lose → flooding
Cell phone communications, power and the water plant are all down in the city as well, he said.
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he → say → city
Flash flood emergency declared
At 4 a.m. Thursday, a flash flood emergency was declared in Polk County, the southeast corner of Tennessee, and a "considerable" flash flood warning for multiple counties in north central Georgia.
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emergency → declare → Georgia
The Ocoee River at Copperhill and McCaysville entered major flood stage, level 3 of 3, at 3:30 a.m.
The river rose 14 feet in 7 and a half hours, from 4 feet at 10:30 p.m. to 16 feet at 4:30 a.m. to 18 feet at 6 a.m.
Water from the river has started to recede and has dropped three feet in the last hour, Earley said at around 8 a.m. Thursday morning.
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Earley → enter → a.m.
This catastrophic flood event is affecting much of the infrastructure in Copperhill and McCaysville.
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event → affect → Copperhill
Numerous homes, businesses, and roads are flooded with several feet of water.
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homes → flood → water
The McCaysville Water System is on a boil water advisory until further notice, according to the Fannin County Emergency Management Agency.
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System → accord → Agency
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