COLUMBIA, S.C. — A dangerous rainstorm drenching the East Coast brought more misery Sunday to South Carolina — cutting power to thousands, forcing hundreds of water rescues and closing scores of roads because of floodwaters.
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 I-95 in the eastern part of the state that is a key route connecting Miami to Washington, D.C., and New York.
“This is different than a hurricane because it is water, it is slow moving and it is sitting, We can’t just move the water out,” Gov. Nikki Haley said in a news conference at the headquarters of the State Emergency Management Division.
Nearly 30,000 customers were without power.
The region around the state capital of Columbia was hit the hardest Sunday, with the city’s police department tweeting: “Too many roads to name that are flooded. Please heed our warning! DO NOT venture out!”
Local officials said 100 people had been rescued by midmorning 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.
One of the hardest hit areas in Columbia was near Gills Creek, where a weather station recorded more than 18 inches of rain, nearly all of it in 24 hours. The creek was 10 feet above flood stage, spilling floodwaters that almost reached the stoplights at a four-lane intersection.
Hundreds of businesses, homes and apartments flooded, and dozens of boats fanned out to rescue trapped people.
Vladimir Gorrin said he led his 57-year-old aunt through floodwaters about 7 feet deep surrounding her apartment near Gills Creek. He said his aunt, Wanda Laboy, waited several hours after calling 911, so family came to help.
“She’s very distressed right now,” said Gorrin, 38. “She lost everything.”
His aunt, who doesn’t appear to be injured, is heading with him to his house in an unflooded area of Columbia, he said.
“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 inside the car with his aunt.
The Columbia Fire Department had 140 firefighters working around the county. Fire chief Aubry Jenkins said he’s lost count of how many rescues have been performed. No injuries or deaths have been reported.
“We’re just trying to get to everyone,” Jenkins said. “But there are places we just haven’t gotten to.”
