Governor, local leaders tell Lowcountry to brace for more flooding, urge evacuations

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — Charleston County Emergency Management is urging citizens living near the Edisto and Santee rivers to keep an eye on water levels and leave their homes before the situation gets worse. The areas likely to be impacted by the Edisto River include but are not limited to Parkers Ferry Road in Adams Run, Highway 17 near the Charleston-Colleton County line, and portions of Jacksonboro. ABC News 4 Meteorologist Chad Watson said Friday morning the Edisto River is about three inches from crest and Charleston County officials are trying to evacuate people in the areas of Parkers Ferry Road because the water level is rising in that community. The Santee River, projected to crest at 23 feet, will likely reach its peak around Tuesday. It’s currently at 19 feet — but normal river level for the Santee is about six feet. The crest will likely hold for two days before beginning to drop. Currently, the Santee is pushing through about 860 gallons of water per second. The people in the small community of Germantown near Awendaw will see the effects of the river’s continued rise the most, Watson said. If the Santee does reach 23 feet, it will be the fifth highest level recorded. The severity of the flooding will likely vary from one location to another, officials. Shelters are available for Edisto River residents at C.C. Blaney Elementary (7184 Highway 162) and for Santee River residents at Old McClellanville Middle School (711 Pinckney Street). Georgetown County Emergency Management is also encouraging residents in the Oatland and Dunbar communities to evacuate. Georgetown EMD said Friday afternoon that Santee Electric has cut service to the Gapway Road area due to safety concerns created by rising waters. “Due to flooding conditions and road closures, residents in the Dunbar and Oatland communities no longer have access to the highway system. Georgetown County Emergency Management is making transportation available for residents of these communities to travel across the flooded roadway to Browns Ferry Elementary School,” officials said in a release Thursday. “While a mandatory evacuation order has not been issued, we do strongly encourage residents of the Oatland and Dunbar community to take this opportunity to evacuate. We will have vehicles routing through these communities to pick up residents and transport them.” For residents who do not see one of the evacuation vehicles, call the Disaster Call Center at (843) 545-3273. They will arrange to have you picked up at your address. “If you wish to make your own arrangements for sheltering, please have someone meet you at Browns Ferry Elementary School to transport you from there. If you wish to be taken to an emergency shelter, we will provide transportation. Pets can be transported from these communities but will not be allowed in emergency shelters,” officials said. “Again, we strongly encourage you to take this opportunity to move to a safer location if you are in the Dunbar and Oatland communities.” If you have any questions, please call our Disaster Call Center at (843) 545-3273. Officials did say, however, that there were no plans to close the Waccamaw bridges. Currently, 16 counties have been declared disaster areas, including six in the Lowcountry. Gov. Nikki Haley’s office said Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Clarendon, Darlington, Dorchester, Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Kershaw, Lee, Lexington, Orangeburg, Richland, Sumter, and Williamsburg counties were all declared disaster areas and federal assistance is being sought. As of late Friday morning, Interstate 95 remains opened to local SOUTHBOUND traffic only from I-26 in Orangeburg to Exit 119. I-95 remains closed to all traffic from Exit 119 to Exit 132. I-95 remains opened to local NORTHBOUND traffic only from Exit 132 to I-20 in Florence. Photos courtesy of WCIV