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South Carolina hit with major flooding amid unrelenting Joaquin-fueled rains South Carolina hit with major flooding amid unrelenting Joaquin-fueled rains
(35 minutes later)
Forecasters warned wind gusts topping 35mph could down trees and power lines across the Carolinas and Virginia in the coming hours after flooding from days of record-setting rain along the heavily populated US east coast washed out bridges and homes. A dangerous rainstorm drenching the US east coast brought more misery on Sunday to South Carolina, cutting power to thousands, forcing hundreds of water rescues and closing scores of roads because of floodwaters.
The National Weather Service (NWS) is reporting major flooding in the South Carolina capital of Columbia, the result of the dangerous rainstorm drenching parts of the east coast.
Police say officers and firefighters have been rescuing stranded motorists around Columbia. Fire officials said Sunday morning that they had made more than 50 swift-water rescues, and they’re responding to dozens more calls for help.
The police department said there are too many road closures in the area to name and that emergency dispatchers are working hard to keep up with the call volume. Columbia mayor Steve Benjamin sent a message on Twitter asking residents to “Please, please stay off of the roads!”
At least five weather-related deaths have been reported since rains began spreading over the eastern seaboard, which has appeared to dodge the full fury of hurricane Joaquin churning hundreds of miles out in the Atlantic.
Related: Obama declares state of emergency in South Carolina over floodsRelated: Obama declares state of emergency in South Carolina over floods
President Obama had declared a state of emergency in South Carolina and ordered federal aid to bolster state and local efforts as flood warnings remained in effect for many parts of the east coast through Sunday. Emergency management officials sent a statewide alert telling people to stay off roads and remain indoors unless their homes were in danger of flooding. Interstate highways were closed by flooding, including a 75-mile stretch of I95 in the eastern part of the state that is a key route connecting Miami to Washington and New York.
The steady downpour drew its moisture from a slow-moving low-pressure system over the south-east that has linked up to a finger of tropical moisture from Joaquin. Heavy rain was expected to continue overnight in parts of northern Georgia as well and could cause some significant river and stream flooding, the NWS said. Nearly 30,000 people were without power.
The low-pressure system also was expected to whip up stiff north-easterly winds in the Blue Ridge mountains of the Carolinas and western Virginia with gusts up to 35mph through Sunday, the NWS said. With tree roots already loosened in waterlogged soil, increased winds held the prospect of toppling trees onto power lines or property. The region around the state capital of Columbia was hit the hardest, with the city’s police department tweeting: “Too many roads to name that are flooded. Please heed our warning! DO NOT venture out!”
“We’re not out of the woods yet,” North Carolina emergency management director Mike Sprayberry said late on Saturday. Local officials said 100 people had been rescued by mid-morning from vehicles after trying to cross flooded roads, while state officials reported a total of 200 swift-water rescues around the state. Columbia police said another 200 rescue calls were pending as of midmorning.
High winds toppled a tree that hit a vehicle and killed a passenger on Thursday near Fayetteville, North Carolina. Three people died in separate weather-related traffic incidents in South Carolina on Friday and Saturday, the highway patrol said. A drowning in Spartanburg, South Carolina, also was linked to the storm. One of the hardest hit areas in Columbia was near Gills Creek, where a weather station recorded more than 18in of rain, nearly all of it in 24 hours. The creek was 10ft above flood stage, spilling floodwaters that almost reached the stoplights at a four-lane intersection.
The Greenville-Spartanburg airport in South Carolina recorded 2.3in of rain on Saturday, smashing the previous record of 0.77in set in 1961, according to John Tomko, National Weather Service meteorologist at Greenville-Spartanburg. Hundreds of businesses, homes and apartments flooded, and dozens of boats fanned out to rescue trapped people.
“This one is extraordinary in that it’s such a prolonged event,” he said. Vladimir Gorrin said he led his 57-year-old aunt through floodwaters about 7ft deep surrounding her apartment near Gills Creek. He said his aunt, Wanda Laboy, waited several hours after calling 911, so family came to help.
Downtown Charleston was closed off to incoming traffic Saturday as rain flooded roads and left some motorists stranded as flood waters engulfed their cars, including a white BMW with water to the engine. At least two bridges were washed out in other parts of the state. “She’s very distressed right now,” said Gorrin, 38. “She lost everything.”
“Where we normally are dealing with flooding for a few hours, we’re dealing with it in days here,” Charleston police chief Greg Mullen said. “We’re seeing areas flood today that did not traditionally flood.” His aunt, who did not appear to be injured, was heading with him to his house in an unflooded area of Columbia, he said.
Flooded roads were closed throughout the mid-Atlantic region and power companies reported scattered outages in several states. “I’m trying to find my way back home, and every road that we’ve taken is blocked or flooded,” he said in a phone interview from inside the car with his aunt.
In New Jersey, storms dislodged an entire house from its pilings in a low-lying area of Middle Township. No one was in the residence. Flood watches and warnings also are in effect in Delaware and parts of New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia. Fire chief Aubry Jenkins said 140 firefighters were working around the county, and he had lost count of how many rescues have been performed. No injuries or deaths have been reported.
The weather service issued a warning for residents living along the coast to be alert for rising water. A combination of high water and high waves could cause beach erosion and damage docks and piers. “We’re just trying to get to everyone,” Jenkins said. “But there are places we just haven’t gotten to.”
In Ocean City, Maryland, spokeswoman Jessica Waters said moderate high tide flooding Saturday forced street closures in low-lying areas but caused no major damages or injuries. State representative Kirkland Finlay begged for help for his district, praising first responders but saying the state planned poorly when it knew flooding was likely.
Meanwhile, the Atlantic seaboard was spared what could have been much worse damage had Joaquin not continued on a path well off the US coast. And some people found ways to enjoy the wet weather, cavorting in kayaks and canoes in some flooded areas. “We have property destroyed and lives crushed,” Finlay said.
Steven Capito spent the day surfing by the Ocean View Fishing Pier in Norfolk, Virginia, where two- to three-foot waves crashed ashore. Ordinarily, he said waves from the Chesapeake Bay would barely lap his ankles. Emergency shelters were being opened around the state for displaced residents, and President Barack Obama declared a state of emergency in South Carolina.
“It’s kind of a fun novelty to be out here in the bay,” said Capito, who lives in Virginia Beach. “You only get to do it a couple of times a year and it’s nice and warm.” The Columbia area received the most rain overnight, with up to 14in reported in some places since Saturday, forecasters said. To the southeast, rainfall had exceeded 2ft since Friday in some areas around Charleston, though conditions had improved enough that residents and business owners were allowed downtown on a limited basis.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol responded to more than 300 collisions around the state in the 12 hours leading up to 6am. It cleared nearly 140 trees from roads.
At least five weather-related deaths have been reported since rains began spreading over the eastern seaboard, which appeared to dodge the full fury of hurricane Joaquin, which was veering out to sea.
High winds toppled a tree that hit a vehicle and killed a passenger on Thursday near Fayetteville, North Carolina. Three people died in separate weather-related traffic accidents in South Carolina on Friday and Saturday, the highway patrol said. A drowning in Spartanburg, South Carolina, also was linked to the storm.
The rainstorm around the south-east has drawn tropical moisture from offshore that is linked up with an area of low pressure and a slow-moving front. Heavy rain was expected to continue in the Carolinas and parts of northern Georgia, the National Weather Service said.
Along South Carolina’s coast, Charleston County 911 operators received 300 calls for assistance in a two-hour period on Saturday night. Two mobile home parks in North Charleston were evacuated because rising floodwaters forced crews to cut off the electricity.
The downtown Charleston peninsula, which includes the city’s historic district, has been reopened on a limited basis for residents and business owners after it was closed to incoming traffic Saturday.
Charleston mayor Joe Riley said it in an interview that it appeared the torrential rainfall has passed, but moderate rain may continue for 24 hours. He said he had never seen flooding as bad in his 40 years as mayor.
“This was a record storm,” he said. “You know the amount of rainfall that we have experienced is unprecedented. I feel very fortunate that we were able to get through this as well as we have.”
In Florence, about 80 miles east of Columbia, Mary Gainey was told on Sunday about an evacuation order for her neighbourhood along a rising creek.
“I’ve been rushing around, making sure I have everything I need,” said the 65-year-old Gainey. She was going to stay at her daughter’s house until the water receded.
“This is the first time we’ve had to be evacuated,” she said. “It’s strange leaving everything behind.”