SC officials warn worst of flooding could be yet to come

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, SC (WIS) - South Carolina emergency officials are warning residents to remain on high alert despite some water levels beginning to slowly recede in some of the state's hardest hit areas.

On Monday, Governor Henry McMaster took an aerial tour of parts of Chesterfield and Horry counties. It was the same day President Donald Trump named a disaster proclamation for eight counties statewide. Chesterfield County, however, was not one of the counties listed. After his tour, McMaster said he plans on requesting additional aid to help the flood victims in that county. 

"We in Columbia and others on the coast, the hurricane has passed as has the rain and wind," he said. "Up there from Chesterfield down to Dillon, Marion and Horry, they are having flooding and it's a major flood."

The National Guard said 3,100 troops have been activated in South Carolina. Of those troops, 180 of those troops coming from 28 different states. While some have been released to return to work or school, the need remains in areas like Conway.

"Our crews are working to put those one-ton sandbags along Highways 501 and 378, which serve as a main artery through Conway to the coast," McMaster said. "That getting cut off would make getting supplies and machinery to the coast much harder."

The South Carolina Department of Transportation said many roads across the state remain closed and it expects more to shut down as water continues to flow south from North Carolina.

"We currently have approximately 200 road closures statewide," Secretary of Transportation Christy Hall said. "Forty major roads are closed with severe mobility issues in Chesterfield, parts of Horry, Marion and Dillon counties and we expect that number to grow as the flood makes its way through the state."

The Department of Natural Resources said it expects the Waccamaw River in Conway to crest twice in the next week. Those crests could happen as close as 12 hours together.

"We expect the Waccamaw River to rise to a flood stage higher than what we've recorded so far," Col. Alvin Taylor with the Department of Natural Resources said. "The highest level was around 19 feet, but it would be higher than that, by prediction it would be more than Floyd."

Officials said they are not concerned about any significant flooding impacts in the immediate Midlands area.

President Trump is expected to tour storm-ravaged areas in North Carolina on Wednesday.

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