McCaysville flood recovery: Mayor urges people to conserve water

Some conditions are starting to improve in McCaysville days after devastating floods washed away homes and damaged businesses.

McCaysville Mayor Terry Arp gave an update Monday morning on the town’s water situation with a boil water advisory in effect for the area.

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He told Channel 2’s Darryn Moore that they are seeing a vast improvement for restoring water. About 600 customers are still without water, but Arp expects the water to turn back on later today.

The mayor though urges residents who do have water to only use it for restroom purposes.

“Please, no washing of clothes, cars, or anything for the next few days till we can get it built up. If those things start happening, then it’s going to deplete the tanks quickly,” Arp said.

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The mayor also gave an update on the power and road situation. Several businesses have had their power restored. The main issue is getting the highways and streets cleaned up from the debris.

Arp said he hopes to have traffic back open by Wednesday.

“The main reason for that is we’d asked the residents to put the debris out on the road, so we can collect it. Instead of having to stay up there and guard the roads and keep people coming through,” he said.

While the conditions are improving, McCaysville residents know life has changed forever in their small town. Arp said the town is getting help from GEMA and FEMA as they go home-to-home to access the damage.

“It breaks your heart to see everything that you walk by someone’s home and everything they have is piled out in the yard and it’s — they can’t do anything with it,” Arp told Channel 2.

“They have been here for 3 days straight going to every home that they know has, you know, been hurt and ruined by the floods. Starting to get all the paperwork. Very much appreciate them being here to help, help the citizens here in McCaysville,” he said.

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