City officials said Saturday that people cleaning out flooded properties should place damaged belongings and debris along streets or sidewalks for collection. Crews will move through the city picking up debris, but officials cautioned that reaching every property could take time. Residents are asked to keep at least one lane open wherever possible so emergency vehicles and cleanup equipment can pass.

One of the most pressing problems is the city's damaged water system. McCaysville Water Department employees are working to restore service so families and businesses can begin cleaning and rebuilding, but officials have not provided a timeline for full restoration. While the system remains disrupted, the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency said bottled water has been sent into Fannin County.

GEMA has fulfilled 18 resource requests connected to the disaster, including helicopters, boats, drones, debris-clearing personnel and drinking water, according to agency Director Josh Lamb.

"If they need it, we're going to try to help find it and get it to them as efficiently and quickly as we can," Lamb said.

The storm prompted 100 reported rescues across North Georgia — 97 in Fannin County and three in Gilmer County, Lamb said. During the height of the flooding, emergency responders received numerous reports of people trapped inside their homes, particularly in southern Fannin County. Swift-water rescue teams from Cherokee, Union and Murray counties responded alongside the Tri-State Mutual Aid Group.

In Murray County, state officials said a vehicle was swept away by floodwaters along CC Camp Road. The driver was later found dead.

"Our heart goes out to their family," Lamb said.

Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency for Fannin, Gilmer, Murray and Union counties, allowing additional state resources to flow into the affected communities. Gilmer County also declared its own local state of emergency after flooding washed out roads and culverts and left some residents temporarily cut off.

In McCaysville, several roads remain closed to through traffic: Toccoa Avenue, Highway 68 through Copperhill, and Blue Ridge Drive at East and West Tennessee. Officials are urging drivers not to go around barricades or interfere with emergency and cleanup crews.

Two distribution centers are operating in McCaysville — at First Baptist Church of McCaysville and in the building below Papa's Pizza on Blue Ridge Drive. Food, clothing and cleaning supplies are available to anyone affected, including people from Fannin County, neighboring Polk County, Tennessee, Copperhill, McCaysville and surrounding communities. Donations are also being accepted at both locations.

The American Red Cross has opened a shelter at the Fannin County Recreation Center, 520 Winding Drive in Blue Ridge, for people forced from their homes.

McCaysville is continuing to accept volunteers to help homeowners and businesses clean up. Anyone who wants to volunteer must first report to the Incident Command Center behind McCaysville City Hall. After registering, volunteers will be sent to areas where help is needed. Officials are asking people not to simply show up at damaged properties because emergency managers need to coordinate workers and maintain safe access.

A temporary flight restriction remains in effect over the disaster area to keep the skies clear for helicopters and other aircraft involved in recovery operations. State officials warned that unauthorized drones and aircraft are prohibited, and violations could result in fines, loss of pilot certifications or criminal charges.

Lamb said state damage assessment teams are still working through affected communities, meaning the full scope of the destruction remains unknown.

"Assessments are preliminary and ongoing as teams continue to evaluate the extent of the damage," he said.

Despite the scale of the damage, Michael Otis Earley, the city's public safety director and police chief, said the focus is now on rebuilding both McCaysville and surrounding communities.

"Many have lost so much, and the road to recovery will not be easy," Earley said in an update to the community. "Our community may be hurting, but we are not defeated. Buildings and possessions can be replaced, but the strength, compassion, and determination of our people cannot be washed away."

"We will rebuild. We will recover. And we will come back stronger than we were before."