Record river crest floods McCaysville, Georgia, and Copperhill, Tennessee, officials say

Note

Update, Friday Nov 6: Emergency management officials reported more than 80 people were rescued in Fannin County overnight, after an initial count of 57, FOX 5 Atlanta reports. Fannin County Fire Rescue confirmed there was no loss of life, and police chief Michael Earley said no major injuries had been reported as of Thursday afternoon.

Update, 2 PM ET: About 57 people were rescued overnight by 13 swift-water teams using nine boats, Fannin County Emergency Management said, Atlanta News First and FOX 5 Atlanta report. Floodwaters are receding; the Copperhill gauge read 5.57 feet at 1:30 PM ET, below flood stage. Police chief Michael Earley said no serious injuries were reported, though a firefighter was hurt and is expected to recover and others were hospitalized with suspected hypothermia or shock. McCaysville is under a boil water advisory until further notice because its water treatment plant is shut down, 11Alive reports.

Record flooding hit McCaysville, Georgia, and Copperhill, Tennessee, overnight into Thursday, Nov 5, as the Toccoa River, known as the Ocoee in Tennessee, rose above its all-time crest.

The National Weather Service gauge at Copperhill read 18.05 feet at 6 AM ET, above the 17.75 feet record from Feb 16, 1990. It was at 17.83 feet by 7:30 AM ET. The weather service issued flash flood emergencies for both towns.

A state of emergency was declared in McCaysville and the city is closed until further notice, police chief Michael Earley told CNN affiliate Atlanta News First. He said rescuers were still trying to reach several people trapped in homes.

Fannin and Gilmer counties in Georgia reported widespread flooding, with homes flooded or surrounded by water, CNN reports. Rain has ended, but river flooding remains a threat through the day.