The flood that devastated McCaysville Wednesday night was the result of a 1 in 1,000-Year Rainfall Event that occurred over Blue Ridge, Georgia, the National Weather Service (NWS) said Friday.
“Both the 12-hour rainfall amount of 11.19 inches and the 6-hour rainfall amount of 10.28 inches exceeded the 1 in 1000 year rainfall event mark during their respective time frames per the NOAA Atlas 14,” the weather service said in a social media posting.
Just what is a 1 in 1,000-year rainfall event?
It is not a storm that happens once every 1,000 years. Instead, it is a statistical measure meaning there is about a 0.1% chance (1 in 1,000) that rainfall of that magnitude will occur in any given year at a specific location, according to forecasters.
Rainfall in the affected areas ranged from11.19 inches in Blue Ridge to 3.41 inches in Young Harris. The water that devastated McCaysville and caused damages elsewhere came from the surging Toccoa River which flows southward out of the mountains in North Carolina and along the Georgia state line.
Meanwhile, in McCaysville Friday, cleanup efforts were starting. The whole downtown area was damaged by the surging water. Mayor Terry Arp says many downtown business operators have gathered to begin the slow rebuild. The city is asking businesses and residents to place portable debris on the curb for pickup. Governor Kemp has declared McCaysville and surrounding areas a disaster area, which will accelerate insurance and financial aid claims.