Communities along the Tennessee–Georgia border are cleaning up after catastrophic flooding that forecasters described as a 1-in-1,000-year event.
Storms that dumped extreme rainfall have since pushed up the Atlantic coast, but the hardest-hit inland towns remain focused on rescue and debris removal.
Local officials said bridges, water plants, and neighborhood streets suffered damage that will take months to fully assess.
Federal disaster teams are coordinating with governors on emergency housing and temporary school sites.
Climate scientists noted that while no single storm proves a trend, the intensity fits a pattern of heavier downpours in a warming atmosphere.
Mutual-aid groups from neighboring counties arrived with boats, generators, and drinking water over the weekend.
Insurers warned underinsured households could face steep rebuild gaps even after federal assistance arrives.
Residents described harrowing overnight evacuations as creeks jumped their banks faster than alerts could spread.
