Crews across South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia are out in force as Tropical Storm Debby dumps heavy rain and some tornados, inundating roads and bridges with high water.
Thousands of crew members are working to clear drainage structures, place barricades and remove downed trees and debris from roadways as the storm continues to soak the southeastern states.
The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) reported that 83 state-maintained roadways, mostly in the Lowcountry, were closed as of 11 a.m. Wednesday. Around 25 roads that were previously closed have since been reopened.
All major interstate highways are currently open. SCDOT also reopened several ramps on Interstate 95 that were closed due to standing water on Wednesday.
Debby is expected to make a second landfall in South Carolina early Thursday morning, bringing more rain and gusty winds.
“We do anticipate some additional road closures as this event continues,” said Justin Powell, Transportation Secretary, in a statement to Counton2.com.
Many south Georgia areas were also hit hard, among them the Statesboro area.
Bulloch County Public Safety and EMA reported Tuesday morning that 40 to 50 roads had been affected, 50 to 75 trees across roads, five trees that fell on houses, and 10 power lines down.
One of the more dramatic damages was when both dams at Simmons Pond were breached. Residents near the pond or downstream were urged to seek shelter.
It was also recommended drivers avoid portions of Highway 46. But despite active road closures with signs, social media chatter indicates multiple people have actively dodged those blocks.
The National Water Prediction Service was reporting multiple floods in the surrounding area as of Wednesday. The largest is at the Canoochee River near Claxton with water reaching 17.44 feet, classifying it as a major flood. Smaller floods were reported at three different areas of Ogeechee River
Debby will bring more rain to southeast North Carolina, and an additional three to nine inches of rain is possible as the storm moves north, raising concerns of flash floods in mountainous areas of West Virginia.
There is a looming threat of tornadoes Thursday in parts of North Carolina and even Virginia, forecasters said in a report to AP News. At least three tornadoes were reported overnight in North Carolina, including one around 3 a.m. that damaged at least four houses, a church and a school in Wilson County east of Raleigh.
Standing water a few feet deep covered parts of the tiny town of Bladenboro, where deputies posted photos of a patrol car damaged by a tree and washed out roads.
The final act may come next week if enough rain falls upstream in North Carolina to cause major flooding along rivers as they flow to the Atlantic Ocean.
Residents are advised to avoid unnecessary travel. If needing to travel, however, people in coastal communities and low-lying areas should check road conditions before heading out.
Source: SavannahNow.com, AP News, Counton2.com
