Flooding is affecting several communities in Columbus County, including hard-hit Fair Bluff, Nakina, Old Dock and Crusoe Island.
Much of the downtown Fair Bluff area is set to be demolished in the coming weeks, as part of a revitalization program caused by damage in hurricanes Matthew and Florence. The National
Weather Service said flooding will likely not reach those levels this time, but the Lumber River has left its banks and closed off Riverside Drive and the main route through town. Several homes are also threatened by encroaching water.
In a video this morning, Sheriff Bill Rogers and Rep. Brenden Jones urged drivers to avoid the Fair Bluff area. Jones said as much as three more feet of water could come downstream and into the town today and tonight.
Rogers, who has been checking roads throughout the county since the storm passed through, repeated the message he has shared since Debby began closing roads.
“Turn around and don’t drown,” Rogers said, noting that the sheriff’s office emergency vehicles are standing by to make water rescues.
Acme Delco Riegelwood fire and rescue personnel stayed busy throughout the storm. Chief Steve Camlin said ADR had both military surplus high clearance trucks and three boat crews on duty.
Camlin said his station was called out on four rescues, including one involving a mother, father and two infants.
“The first three we did were from hydroplaning,” he said. “The fourth was a water rescue on General Howe Road.”
Firefighters also had to rescue an individual in waist-deep floodwaters on Fertilizer Road, he said. All the calls were in the Columbus County part of ADR’s district, and none were in Bladen, Camlin said.
At Old Dock, the Waccamaw River is rising rapidly as stormwater flows downstream. Lake Waccamaw Mayor Matt Wilson said this morning in a social media post that more flooding is expected at the Lake as Big Creek and other tributaries flow into the lake. That water will eventually reach Old Dock, Crusoe, Nakina and Pireway.
More than 20 roads in the county are currently blocked or nearly impassable. Red Hill Road at the White Marsh in Whiteville is expected to be closed this afternoon. Water was running over the causeway this morning (Friday). Red Hill Road has also been overwashed in several places, and the swamp between Red Hill Road and U.S. 701 at Clarkton is blocked.
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