Historic rainfall levels are being recorded in what Governor Haley says is “something we have never experienced before,” talking about the state’s past weather events on CNN News today. She is urging people to stay indoors where it is safe.
Multiple state and federal agencies, as well as volunteer groups are now involved in the disaster as flooding continues to spread across wide areas. Over 30,000 people are now without power and the National Weather Service has issued a warning for “catastrophic” flooding in Charleston and Berkeley counties, advising people to move to higher ground.
“It’s a historic flood the likes of which we haven’t seen,” Eric Rousey, the state’s emergency management spokesman said. He added that most of the rescue operations have been in the Dorchester and Charleston area where 140 water rescues were done overnight in Dorchester.
On Saturday, according to CBS, over 11 1/2 inches of rain fell, and today’s rainfall amounts will be even higher. There have been 83 road closures throughout the state by early Sunday, 46 were in Charleston, Rousey said. A 75-mile stretch of Interstate 95, a key route between Washington D.C. and Florida is also closed.
So far, today, there has been over 24 inches of rain in many areas of the state, causing two dams to break, bridges to buckle, and it’s not over for at least three more days. One of the hardest hit areas was in Columbia near Gills Creek, where 18 inches of rain fell within 24 hours. Gill Creek was running 10-feet over the flood stage, and the waters were so high they almost reached the stoplights at a four-lane intersection.
Three weather-related fatalities have been reported
There have been five deaths reported since Thursday, but officials are saying only three of the deaths are weather-related. The South Carolina Highway patrol has responded to 323 collisions, 140 calls for assisting motorists, 138 trees in the roadway and 106 reports of flooding.
In Columbia, S.C., the fire department has been overwhelmed with emergency calls. At one point, over 100 calls were waiting for emergency response. Even though the east coast of the U.S. was spared the full brunt of hurricane Joaquin’s fury, the east coast, from New Jersey to South Carolina has been inundated with rains, very heavy at times, winds of up to 35 mph, and localized flooding.
The National Weather Service opened the extreme weather forecast on its website, and is reminding people not to drive through rushing waters, no matter how shallow. “Do not attempt to drive into flooded roadways. Turn around, don’t drown,” it says. “It takes just 12 inches of flowing water to carry off a small car; 18 to 24 inches for larger vehicles,” the video said.
