Streets are flooded in most area towns, trees are down and multiple residents required water rescue Sunday night after a strong storm system brought from five to eight inches of rain to Columbus County.
The “cold core” storm was the equivalent of a tropical system, according to the National Weather Service. More than a foot of rain fell in parts of Horry County, S.C.
Emergency officials scrambled to respond to multiple reports of over- and underwashed roads. A break in the county water system in District Two, between Clarendon and Chadbourn, may be related to the heavy rains.
Cleanup is still underway after a massive pine tree was destroyed between Pierce Cemetery and Honey Hill roads, blocking N.C. 214.
Hallsboro firefighters rescued a family from a disabled pickup after the truck was caught in floodwaters at Old Northeast and Thelma roads just after 7 p.m.
County schools are already on break, but Whiteville Sity Schools declared a two-hour delay for Monday.
Chadbourn Police Chief Ken Elliot said several roads were overwashed between Cherry Grove and Chadbourn, and the town blocked N.C. 410 and several residential streets due to high water.
Lake Waccamaw Police Chief Scott Hyatt said that the usual trouble spots were flooded Sunday, but there were no major issues.
In Cerro Gordo, 6.9 inches of rain was recorded by 7 p.m. Areas which have not flooded since Hurricane Florence had deep standing water.
Whiteville fire and Whiteville Rescue had to extract a woman who was walking on Calhoun Street Sunday afternoon, and fell in a storm drain. She sustained a broken arm.
Downtown business owners are holding their breath in hopes of avoiding another flood like that brought by Tropical Storm Idalia in August. Frazier, Lee, Virgil, College, Maultsby, Canal Calhoun and Franklin streets remain blocked. The Family Dollar store, Southern Tire and Murf’s Pawn on Madison had water inside.
The Soules Swamp flood gauge in downtown Whiteville hit at 7.5 feet this morning around 9:30 a.m., and emergency officials expected the water to reach eight feet before falling.
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Mike Creen monitors floodwater near the Veterans building in downtown Whiteville. Frazier Street had more than 18 inches of water as of 10 a.m.
Some areas in Chadbourn and Cerro Gordo saw flooding as deep or deeper than during Hurricane Florence. (Contributed photos)
