FloodsEight dead, thousands stranded as South Carolina hit by “once in a millennium” floods
In what Governor Nikki Haley described as a “once-in-a-millennium” flood, a downpour has inundated large parts of South Carolina, causing at least eight deaths. By early Sunday, the storm had dumped more than eighteen inches of rain in parts of central South Carolina, and the state climatologist forecast another 2 to 6 inches through Monday as the rainfall began to weaken. After state police and emergency crews had to rescue hundreds of motorists and passengers from vehicles which stalled in high water, Haley announced all interstate highways in and around Columbia would be closed, and ordered to deployment of 600 national guardsmen to help with rescues and evacuations.
In what Governor Nikki Haley described as a “once-in-a-millennium” flood, a downpour has inundated large parts of South Carolina, causing at least eight deaths.
By early Sunday, the storm had dumped more than eighteen inches of rain in parts of central South Carolina, and the state climatologist forecast another 2 to 6 inches through Monday as the rainfall began to weaken.
Haley said parts of the state were hit with rainfall which would be expected to occur once in 1,000 years, with the Congaree River running at its highest level since 1936.
“This is the worst flooding in the low country [the region around the South Carolina coast] for a thousand years, that’s how big this is,” Haley told reporters. “That’s what South Carolina is dealing with right now.
“Our goal is all hands on deck. If you are in your house, stay in your house,” Haley added. “This is not something to be out taking pictures of.”
Three of the eight weather-related deaths were the result of traffic accidents.
There were two flood-related deaths in North Carolina.
The New York Times reports that Hurricane Joaquin did not hit the Carolinas and the rest of the southern sections of the U.S east coast as expected – it turned instead out to sea after battering the Bahamas – but thousands in South Carolina were still left without power by the rain.
After state police and emergency crews had to rescue hundreds of motorists and passengers from vehicles which stalled in high water, Haley announced all interstate highways in and around Columbia would be closed, and ordered to deployment of 600 national guardsmen to help with rescues and evacuations.
The governor also ordered the opening of shelters, imposed curfews, closed schools and shut major several other thoroughfares.
“This is not going to clear up until at least Tuesday or Wednesday,” Haley said. “Give us the space we need.”
On Saturday, president Barack Obama declared a state of emergency for South Carolina, freeing up federal funds to be used to tackle the floods.
Eric Rousey, the state’s the emergency management spokesman, on Sunday told CNN that South Carolina was dealing with “a historic flood the likes of which we haven’t seen.”
Charleston mayor Joe Riley, told the AP he had never seen such flooding in his forty years as mayor.
The rainfall in Charleston on Saturday was measured at 11.5in, a record.
“This was a record storm,” Riley said. “I feel very fortunate that we were able to get through this as well as we have.”
Climatologists note that Haley’s reference to the flooding being the “worst in a thousand years” did not mean that South Carolina had not seen such flooding since 1015 AD. Rather, the reference was to the expectation among forecasters that in any given 1,000 years, such flooding could reasonably be expected to occur only once.
