Storms that caused 1-in-1,000 year flood event in Tennessee and Georgia move up Atlantic coast

A storm system that caused what the National Weather Service calls a catastrophic, 1,000-year flood along the Tennessee-Georgia state line moved up the Eastern Seaboard on Friday, prompting flood advisories in coastal areas from North Carolina to Massachusetts.

In McCaysville, Georgia, and Copperhill, Tennessee, residents and crews spent Friday cleaning up alongside the Toccoa River. Rainfall across the surrounding mountain watershed measured 10.28 inches (26.1 cms) over a six-hour period and 11.19 inches (28.4 cms) over 12 hours into Thursday morning, according to the weather service in Atlanta.

Some instances of extreme weather are referred to as 1,000-year events because they have a 0.1%, or 1 in 1,000, chance of happening in a particular place in any given year. While uncommon, “it’s definitely possible to have multiple 1,000-year events in the same year,” the weather service said.

The Toccoa flows into the Ocoee River, where the Tennessee Valley Authority was managing high water levels at three of its hydroelectric dams. Swift-water teams from both states rescued dozens of people before the flooding receded, leaving downtown streets covered in mud and its water treatment plant out of commission.

At least one death was associated with the flooding. Julie Barrs, 56, died while apparently trying to drive her vehicle through floodwaters in a mountainous area of Murray County, Georgia, Sheriff Jimmy Davenport said Friday.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency for four counties to make resources available.

This was the second disastrous flood in three months for the communities — the weather service categorized the early August flood as a 1-in-500 year event — and McCaysville had reopened its renovated police building just last week. Police Chief Michael Otis Earley said his department “lost virtually everything” from the latest flood and that recovering again “will not be easy.”

Access to the downtown area Friday was restricted to authorized personnel, business owners and residents, and a curfew remains in effect from dusk to dawn, Earley said in a statement.

“This disaster does not define who we are as a community,” Earley said. “How we come together, how we care for our neighbors, how we lift one another up, and how we move forward will define us. McCaysville may be down right now, but we are not defeated.”

With about 1,000 residents in McCaysville and fewer than 500 in Copperhill, the twin towns have been a quaint destination for scenic railroad rides — the Blue Ridge Railway on the Georgia side and the Copperhill Special in Tennessee. Both trains treat tourists to river and mountain views before stopping so visitors can sample the restaurants and shops.

The Copperhill General Store posted on social media that nearly all its wares are covered in mud.

“Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work through this devastating loss,” the store's statement said.

Another police station took a hit from flooding Friday, this one in New England. In Falmouth, Massachusetts, in the westernmost section of Cape Cod, Police Chief Jeffrey A. Lourie urged residents to stay home because heavy rains flooded roads throughout the town, as well as the police department’s headquarters.

Cleaning up work begins on Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, after floodwaters from heavy rains recede in Copperhill, Tenn.(Tracey Trumbull/Local 3 News via AP)

An ice freezer sits between flood damaged buildings Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, in Copperhill, Tenn. after heavy rain moved through the area. (AP Photo/Kathleen Greeson)

Debris and damage covers the ground and streets from overnight thunderstorms that caused flooding in downtown McCaysville, Ga., on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilie Megnien)

Bo Swafford surveys water rushing over the TVA Ocoee 2 Dam along the Ocoee River, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, in Polk County, Tenn. (AP Photo/Kathleen Greeson)

Residents begin cleaning up Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, after floodwaters from heavy rains recede in Copperhill, Tenn.(Tracey Trumbull/Local 3 News via AP)

DALLAS (AP) — Cooper Flagg scored 21 points and Kyrie Irving added 14 after a sluggish first half for both stars as the Dallas Mavericks beat the Utah Jazz 112-100 in an NBA Cup game Friday night.

P.J. Washington scored 22 of his season-high 26 points in a first half that ended in a 57-all tie, setting the stage for Flagg and Irving to take over after the break.

Flagg scored 17 in the second half, while Irving had all but two of his points after halftime after starting 1 of 11 from the field. While Flagg's scoring lagged before the break, he had six rebounds and assists in the first half before finishing with 10 and seven, respectively.

Lauri Markkanen scored 24 points and rookie Darryn Peterson had 21 for the Jazz, who lost their seventh straight game to drop to 1-8.

Flagg and Irving scored 21 of the points on a 22-10 run that turned a one-point Dallas deficit into an 81-70 lead late in the third quarter. Flagg had 13 points and Irving eight.

The Mavericks kept the run going after Irving went to the bench.

Morez Johnson Jr. had a one-handed, alley-oop dunk to clinch the 20-year-old rookie's first double-double, and the Dallas lead reached 16 before Utah's Josh Okogie beat the third-quarter buzzer with a 3-pointer. Johnson tied his season best of 13 points and had 17 rebounds.

Washington was 5 of 6 from 3-point range and made all five of his free throws in the first half. His sixth and final 3 helped Dallas maintain a double-digit lead throughout the fourth quarter.

Dallas' Santi Aldama had eight points and nine rebounds in his first game since Feb. 4 last season with Memphis. The 7-footer was part of a six-team trade in the summer. Aldama had right knee surgery in March.

Jazz: At Minnesota on Sunday.

Mavericks: Host Brooklyn on Sunday.

See AP’s full NBA coverage here

Dallas Mavericks' Morez Johnson Jr. (14) and Santi Aldama (34) celebrate during the second half of an NBA Cup basketball game against the Utah Jazz in Dallas, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) shoots as Dallas Mavericks' Morez Johnson Jr. (14) defends during the second half of an NBA Cup basketball game in Dallas, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Utah Jazz center Jaxson Hayes (11) celebrates his dunk between Dallas Mavericks' Zaccharie Risacher (10) and Morez Johnson Jr., right, during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game in Dallas, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Mavericks' Kyrie Irving (11) shoots over Utah Jazz's Keyonte George (3) during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game in Dallas, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) drives to the basket as Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) defends during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game in Dallas, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Mavericks forward Daniel Gafford dunks over Utah Jazz's Lauri Markkanen during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game in Dallas, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Mavericks' Cooper Flagg (32) and Daniel Gafford (21) celebrate during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game against the Utah Jazz in Dallas, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)