Photos and Video Of South Carolina Flooding: 9 Dead; Residents Urged Indoors

Residents are urged to stay indoors in South Carolina, where record breaking rain has led to flooding, dam breaches, curfews, nine fatalities and power outages. While the rain has stopped, officials say the situation is far from over.

The South Carolina Emergency Management Division asked residents on Sunday to remain where they are and avoid dangerous flooding conditions. According to the National Weather Service, more than 20 inches of rain has fallen in the state since Friday.

On Monday, South Carolina Department of Public Safety Director Leroy Smith said at a press conference “we can’t let our guard down.” Gov. Nikki Haley said she had phoned in a request to the federal government for a major disaster declaration.

At a press conference on Sunday, Haley stressed the magnitude of what the state was going through, calling it a “1-in-1000 year event.” Haley said hundreds of emergency responders have been deployed across the state adding that the situation was far from over and residents should expect to stay inside through Monday.

“If you are in your house, stay in your house,” Haley said Sunday. “This is not something to take pictures of, this is not something your kids can play in.”

Officials continue to warn residents to stay away from flooded roads. According to the South Carolina Department of Transportation, around 550 roads remained closed due to flooding. 1300 National Guardsmen have been deployed, with hundreds more on standby.

The South Carolina Department of Transportation is starting to open roads and bridges and parts of the state North of Columbia are going into a recovery mode. South of the city, authorities remain in response mode. WIS-TV reports evacuations are being ordered in Forest Acres, due to a dam failure.

“It takes just 12” of rushing water to carry away a small car, 2’ can carry away most vehicles,” the NWS warns residents.

Statewide, 31,000 people have been left without power and 40,000 people are without water, reports Fox.

The number of fatalities has increased to nine. Haley said on Monday that four of those fatalities are traffic related while five were drowning deaths including one state DOT worker.

Charleston Airport received a total of 16.61 inches as of 9 a.m. Sunday while 14.25 inches of rain fell in downtown Charleston, breaking the previous records for wettest October set in 1994 and 1959 respectively. The rain has been brought in by very persistent moisture coming from the ocean.

At least ten counties have declared a state of emergency. Haley said she will recommend county offices to close Monday and expects schools will follow suit.

Image via NWS