UPDATE: Historic flooding continues to hit South Carolina
(10/04/15) A 75-mile stretch of Interstate 95 is among the many roads closed by flooding in South Carolina, where authorities are urging people to stay off the roads.
The region around Columbia has been hit particularly hard. The county government says 100 people have been rescued from vehicles after trying to cross flooded roads. Statewide, officials report a total of 200 swift-water rescues.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol responded to more than 300 collisions in a 12-hour period and cleared nearly 140 trees from roads.
Fourteen inches of rain fell in the Columbia area overnight. Some areas near Charleston have received more than 2 feet of rain since Friday.
The mayor of Charleston said the flooding is worse than the flooding caused by Hurricane Hugo in 1989.
Joseph P. Riley Jr. said the flooding that hit the city over the past few days is the worst he has ever seen – even worse that the inundation of rain from Hurricane Hugo.
Caroline Carroll lives 25 miles from Charleston. She said she was a toddler when Hurricane Hugo struck, and she hasn’t seen this much rain or destruction since that time.
“I am just concerned for the people whose houses are flooded. (Our house) isn’t, thank goodness. But a lot of people I know, their houses are 2 or 3 feet underwater. Flood insurance isn’t required for anyone to have here so a lot of people don’t have it,” said Carroll.
Carroll said companies in the community are stepping up to help.
“At least there is a lot of good, tow companies, people are offering to help evacuate people for free,” said Carroll.
She has family in Fountain and said she keeps an eye on weather in Colorado. Southern Colorado has been its share of flooding following the Waldo Canyon and Black Forest fires.
“I would imagine you guys are probably a little more prepared for this with the mudslides and the snow. We’re not used to things like this,” said Carroll.
KRDO NewsChannel 13 meteorologists said the storm hitting South Carolina is expected to head back into the Atlantic Ocean in two days.
