Citizen photo/Glenn Harbison: Main Street in Copperhill, near its intersection with Ocoee Street on the north end of town, was washed away by the Saturday night/Sunday morning rains.

By: Glenn Harbison | glenn@fanninbasincitizen.com

 Cleanup was still underway Monday in many areas following the torrential rain that fell late Saturday night and on into Sunday morning.

Boil water advisories and water conservation requests remained in place for customers on the McCaysville and Copperhill systems.

McCaysville Police Chief Michael Earley said Monday afternoon the city’s system was recovering, but slowly. 

A city Facebook post estimated the conservation request would remain in effect for two to three weeks due to extensive damage at the city’s water plant.

Copperhill officials, where water is supplied by Copper Basin Utility District, were making the same requests.

Bottled water was being brought into both cities Monday.

Sunday morning, as cleanup was progressing, McCaysville Mayor Pro Tem Jason Woody said 7.3 inches of rain had fallen. That rain caused mud to flow from the highway construction areas down Blue Ridge Drive and on into downtown McCaysville. The mud, in turn, clogged the city’s storm drains, increasing the flooding problem.

Fannin County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Director Patrick Cooke said 16 McCaysville businesses, plus the Post Office and city Police Department were damaged.

Early Sunday morning, Cooke said Fannin County emergency services personnel rescued six people and three dogs from two residences on Friendship Lane.

Also, Fannin County assisted the Hiwassee Dam, Peachtree and Copper Basin departments in rescuing 13 people from rental cabins in the Grassy Creek area.

Hiwassee Dam and Wolf Creek volunteers assisted the Fannin County Fire Department in washing down McCaysville after the storm.

“I’m very thankful for all the help” received from the other departments, Cooke said.

Cooke said water for the wash down work was shuttled by Fannin County from the Blue Ridge water system.

Multiple mud slides were reported in Fannin County, and several sinkholes appeared.

Old Epworth Road was closed to thru traffic Monday while Fannin County Public Works Department crews replaced a culvert that has washed away.

This was the only road reported still closed to thru traffic.

Ron Henry Horseshoe Bend Park is closed indefinitely while damage is repaired. Cooke said there is some bridge/culvert damage, a lot of debris to be removed, and damage to fencing, the playground and the dog park.

McCaysville City Council members were scheduled to hold a Special Called Meeting by Zoom Tuesday to declare a State of Emergency and provide for the closing of city facilities.

Earley explained that, under state law, the city police department must be officially closed so that it can be moved to a temporary location while repairs are completed.