More than 120 roads remain closed due to flooding in Orangeburg County

BAMBERG, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) – More than 120 roads in Orangeburg County remain closed or blocked due to damage from last week’s flooding, and schools across the county were closed Monday.

Authorities said about 126 roads in the province are closed due to water concentrating in the Neeses area.

Orangeburg County and other areas in eastern South Carolina continue to experience major flooding from last week’s heavy rains. Many areas received 10 to 18 inches of rain.

Some people living along the Edisto River are evacuating in Colleton County, and a flood alert has been issued along the river in Bamberg and Orangeburg counties.

Although Bamberg County students returned to class Monday, Orangeburg County School District officials decided to keep schools closed for a third day.

“This decision is critical and stems from the fact that more than 140 roads in our province are closed, making safe transportation to and from school impossible,” the district said in a post on Facebook.

“We are actively working with local and state emergency management officials who are diligently assessing conditions and working to establish safe routes for our school buses and families.”

The closures come after schools in the province suffered power outages due to heavy rains and flooding.

Robert E. Howard Middle School experienced flooding under the doors and a power outage.

Bethune-Bowman Elementary School also experienced a power outage. However, all power was restored.

At least two schools experienced flooding in their media centers, according to Superintendent Shawn Foster.

This water tower will be rehabilitated with a federal grant.

The flooding has affected major water pipes, making it difficult for many Orangeburg County residents to find fresh drinking water.

The Neeses Fire Department and South Carolina State Patrol help provide this resource to people in the area, distributing bottled water to those who need it.

“We have set up a distribution point at the Neeses Fire Department where the public can come and get free bottled water,” Staley said. “If you live in that community, this can help alleviate some of that. ”

More than 100 roads in Orangeburg County remain closed.

In Colleton County, firefighters are evacuating people near the Whetstone Crossroads community. Residents tell them that the water level is now higher than after Tropical Storm Debby.

Deputies say residents should “heed the warnings and prepare to leave before it’s too late.”

Authorities say the river could continue to rise for days.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster have both declared states of emergency for counties affected by the catastrophic flooding and traffic damage.

In Georgia, a state of emergency will last until Wednesday for Emanuel, Jefferson and Screven counties, among others.

McMaster’s executive order activates the South Carolina Emergency Operations Plan and complements flood response efforts in the Midlands and Lowcountry regions.

“The state of emergency will ensure that our response teams have all the resources at their disposal to continue their efforts,” McMaster said.

After a bone-dry October, many are now having to cope with the damage caused by flash floods.

The flooding led to cancellations and delays for school districts, including in Aiken County and Orangeburg County.

In Orangeburg County, some of the pavement was severely damaged by washouts, leading to dozens of road closures.

In Aiken County, the intersection of University Parkway and Vaucluse Road was closed.

Catastrophic flooding covered properties with water and damaged roads in Orangeburg County, SC

In Emanuel County, high water closed the bridge on Highway 80 at the 15 Mile Creek just outside Twin City toward Portal. The Emanuel County Board of Commissioners has announced several other road closures Facebook page.

Many areas received 7 to 10 inches of rain, with some localized areas seeing as much as 18 inches. Flooding on the Edisto River is expected to continue into next week.

Schools were closed Thursday and Friday in Orangeburg County, while schools in Bamberg County had eLearning days on Thursday and Friday, and the school day in Aiken County was postponed Thursday.

A rhesus monkey, pictured in India in 2012. A monkey of the same species escaped from...

It’s a similar story in Bamberg County, which has been hit with severe weather again and again this year.

At first glance, some areas look like lakes, but in reality they are roads.

In Bamberg County, resident Paul Eubanks says, “We live in a swamp. Most of Bamberg County is in a swampy area.”

It is a place that is used to a lot of rain.

‘Not that kind of rainfall, not like that. Those two nights it rained and rained and rained and rained,” Eubanks said.

The rain swallows the roads with water.

“Here the water came right behind these benches, almost up to this one tree,” he said. “A few outbuildings have been washed away and there is water under a few houses, which could cause problems.”

PHOTO GALLERY: FLOODING IN ORANGEBURG COUNTY

If you ask Eubanks, he says his family is lucky to be where they are.

“We are in pretty good shape here. We are on fairly high ground. In other places, like down there, closer to the Hunters Chapel Community and the Edisto River Road community, we have homes down there that are now in the water,” Eubanks said.

Some areas are constantly recovering.

“We have roads that we just repaired after the last rain, and culverts were blown out. A few small bridges have been washed away,” Eubanks said.

Bamberg County Public Information Officer Alisha Moore said, “Don’t think we ever fully recovered from Debbie, because right after Debbie came Helene. Because we’re used to it and have had to deal with it season after season. You know, people already know what to do.

Emergency services already know which roads to pay attention to when it rains.

“Roads like Half Moon and Sweet Pea are constantly flooded. Those roads are always flooded. We are in the process of finding the funding we need to help with the drainage problem. But you know, one thing at a time, and hopefully we’ll get there, and I’m sure we will,” Moore said.

Until then, Eubanks says, “You have to prioritize things, and it’s frustrating because you see so many things that need to be done. That’s not possible, we just can’t do them all at the same time.”

Residents are urged not to drive in areas that could be heavily affected and to avoid driving on flooded roads.

Edisto Assistant Fire Chief Jordan Demsey assisted with a water rescue around 8 a.m. Friday after a car drove off this broken bridge into the Roberts Swamp.

Demsey said both passengers suffered minor injuries but were able to free themselves from the vehicle before he arrived. He believes water levels in the Edisto River are still rising and says many of the closures are due to roads and bridges being washed away.

He is urging people to stay away from areas that are still closed, such as Binnicker Bridge Road, saying people are putting their lives at risk by ignoring barricades.

“If you fall into that water, or get stuck under asphalt that’s also under that water, you’re not going to be able to find your way up,” Dempsey said. “You can become disoriented and not know which road is over, so that’s why we say it’s best to avoid road closures.”