14 Dead Amid 175 Water Rescues in South Carolina as Rain Finally Stops

south carolina
Fourteen people are dead due to flooding in South Carolina. Above, a car and a utility vehicle navigate Orange Street in Georgetown, South Carolina on October 4. Randall Hill/Reuters

South Carolina is continuing to respond to a 1,000-year flood that has killed 14 people and caused 10 dams to breach, while wreaking havoc across the state. Authorities said on Tuesday that 175 water rescues have been made since the flooding began over the weekend.

Though it has stopped raining, waters continue to rise, and driving is still dangerous. Police barricades have been set up on numerous roads throughout the state, and flooding has caused dozens of highway closures.

South Carolina Highway Patrol said Tuesday that it has received over 4,000 service calls from drivers stuck in the floodwaters, which include over 1,000 traffic collisions. Highway patrol now has 268 officials on the ground. The Department of Transportation said that it has upped the number its crew members on the ground from 1,000 people to 1,400.

PIC: Here's one example of why we're asking you to stay off the roads. #SCFlood #sctweets Caughman rd in Richland

Of the 14 who have died in recent days, eight drowned and six were killed in traffic-related incidents. "What we are starting to see is that people are starting to move barriers and drive through them. Other people are driving after them.… This is not safe. We are doing this to protect you.…Please help us help you," Governor Nikki Haley said during a press conference on Tuesday morning. Nonetheless, some residents are not heeding warnings to stay off the roads.

This is a great example of why you should NOT drive around a road barricade. #SCFloods #SCTweets #TurnAroundDontDrownPhoto courtesy of: Loretta Coleman

South Carolina's Emergency Management Division is monitoring 18 dams in total, and it has intentionally breached a Richland County dam to relieve pressure on it. The National Guard, which has 2,200 members on the ground, is now helping to sandbag the dams.

The next step for the beleaguered state will be to tackle the massive harm assessments and property damage. Authorities are using the "X" system that was implemented during Hurricane Katrina, wherein an "X" is painted on a home that has been checked for stability by authorities.

"We will have FEMA people on the ground tomorrow doing assessments," Haley said on Tuesday. "We are watching this minute by minute. There are people on the ground giving us feedback." So far, 28 assessment teams from the state have been mobilized. The state can have up to 50 teams doing such work, and it plans to add more as the flood waters recede.

The cost of this crisis remains unknown, Haley said, adding that South Carolina will spend what is necessary to get the state back up and running. "Let's get off of the dollars and focus on the recovery," she said.

The South Carolina counties most threatened by the remaining flood waters are Conway, Georgetown, Jamestown, Orangeburg, Williamsburg and Effingham. Evacuation orders may be issued for Florence, Richland, Marlboro and Horry counties, the governor said.

The state is working to get utilities back up and running after over 21,000 people lost power over the weekend. There have been 26 shelters established throughout the state, which are holding 820 occupants at this time.

"We are still in prayer mode. Don't let the sunshine fool you but we are prepared," Haley added. "What I saw was disturbing. It is hard to look at the loss we are going to have."

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Polly Mosendz is a breaking news reporter for Newsweek. She was previously a staff writer for The Wire and associate ... Read more

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