Many may not remember the Kelly Barnes Dam Collapse that occurred on November 6, 1977, but it remains as one of the worst disasters in the history of Georgia.
At approximately 1:30 a.m., the Kelly Barnes Dam, located near Toccoa in Stephens County, failed due to intense rainfall in the area. The flood killed 39 people and caused almost 3 million in damage.
The dam was never rebuilt, and a memorial to the deceased stands by Toccoa Falls on the campus of Toccoa Falls College.
Written By John G. Clark Jr.
