Persistent torrential rainfall in South Carolina caused dangerous flooding in the state’s main cities on Sunday (October 4) and prompted hundreds of rescues through shoulder-deep waters across the southeastern state.
South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley said parts of the state were hit with rainfall that would be expected to occur once in a thousand years, with the Congaree River running at its highest level since 1936.
Haley also said that three people had died as a result of the weather.
“When you think about what we’re sitting in right now. We are at a thousand year level of rain in parts of the low country. What does that mean? We haven’t seen this level of rain in the low country in a thousand years. That’s how big this is. That’s what South Carolina is dealing with right now. The Congaree River is at its highest level since 1936,” Haley told reporters at a news conference on Sunday.
Overnight rains flooded highways along the South Carolina coast between Charleston and Georgetown, the National Weather Service, or NWS, said. The coastal city of Georgetown, population 9,000, was predominantly under water.
Inland flooding has also hit the state capital, Columbia, where the Congaree rose 10 feet in 12 hours and was at flood level, according to local officials.
Haley said that the emergency services had received and responded to hundreds of calls for assistance.
“The calls for assistance that we’ve seen so far have been 754 and that’s just in the last 12 hour period. Am I right director Smith that we are looking at 323 collisions just in that time frame. Unfortunately we have had three fatalities through this weather event so far,” she said.
She also advised residents across the state to stay in their homes with the rains expected to persist for at least another 24 hours.
“If you are in your house stay in your house. This is not something to be out taking pictures of. This is not something that you want your kids playing in. The water is not safe and a lot of areas across the state where you see this deep water its got bacteria in it. So stay inside and don’t get in there,” she said.
State emergency officials urged residents not to travel due to unsafe roads and curfews were instated in several places, including Columbia. Schools and universities in South Carolina canceled classes on Monday.
Columbia has a population of about 130,000 and is at the confluence of several rivers swollen by several days of heavy rains.
Columbia resident Kisha Simpson was evacuated from her home and said she had seen this kind of flooding before.
“I never through that it would happen to us, we don’t see stuff like this here in South Carolina, so this is a first. It’s shocking, it’s scary, but for the kids it’s exciting, they’ve never seen any- they’re anxious to get out in the water but they don’t really understand the danger,” she said.
President Barack Obama declared a state of emergency in South Carolina on Saturday, making federal emergency funds available.
Precipitation records fell in many places, including Charleston which in less than four days broke the record for the greatest monthly rainfall for October.
More than 18 inches of rain have fallen in one area in South Carolina and more is expected, forecasters said.
Counties reported more than 200 rescues from flood waters since Saturday night and more are expected, the emergency management division said in a Twitter post.
More than 100 people in Richland County were rescued from vehicles that tried to cross flooded roads.
The American Red Cross opened 18 shelters across the state, the organization said on Twitter.
Officials warned dam owners and operators to be vigilant about water levels at the 2,500 to 2,700 dams in South Carolina, with many already overtopping, said Jim Beasley, a South Carolina emergency response official. (Reuters)
