Wind downs trees around Columbia, including onto apartment owned by SC Gov. McMaster

As Tropical Storm Irma’s winds intensified in the Midlands Monday afternoon, trees toppled across Columbia, bringing down power lines, blocking streets and damaging an apartment building owned by S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster.

Four University of South Carolina students were displaced when a large tree fell on a small apartment building owned by McMaster in the 600 block of Henderson Street, near the USC campus in downtown Columbia.

Two of the students were moved to temporary housing and two chose to stay in a hotel, university spokesman Jeff Stensland said.

More than two dozen downed trees were reported across Columbia by Thursday night, according to city officials. Their locations included:

Woodlake Dr./Carter Hill Dr.

Clark St./Florence St.

637 Henderson St.

403 King St.

1521 & 1531 Fairview Rd.

Lyon St./Gervais St.

Trenholm Rd./Gervais St.

133 Pond Oak

Elmwood Ave. at I26

1300 Adger Rd.

3737 Devereaux Rd.

Arborwood/Sagamore

200 Shandon St.

2824 Blossom St.

3210 Lyles St.

300 S. Maple/ Rosewood

Marion St./ Laurel St.

4720 Dale St.

1500 Lady St.

S. Ott/ Rosewood

106 Kilbourne

Sumter/Calhoun

Trenholm/ Haynesworth

Laurel/ Waverly

Lincoln/ Northwood

Cypress/ Maple

1600 Maple

Trenholm/ E. Buchanan

1200 Beatty Rd.

1706 Maplewood

Riverhill Cir.

4011 Palmetto Ave.

1728 E. Buchanan/Parkman

1726 Wayne/ Laurel St.

Pickens/ Blossom

167 Stoneridge/ Greystone Blvd.

322 Glenn Ave./Woodridge

Wallace St/ Elmwood Ave.

1500 King St./ Senate St.

1000 Butler St./ Milwood Ave.

1000 Maple St.

708 S. Maple

At least two intersections in the city were without power as of midafternoon: Millwood Avenue at Devine Street and Devine Street at Percival Road.

Columbia police tweeted a video of a large tree lying across Arborwood Drive, behind the Shoppes at Woodhill off Garners Ferry Road.

Another large tree was uprooted and fell across the road at the intersection of Cypress and Maple streets in the Shandon neighborhood, bringing down power lines with it.

Yet another large tree was uprooted in the 1500 block of Maple Street landed on top of an SUV in a driveway, police tweeted.

The Richland County Sheriff’s Department, meanwhile, tweeted a photo of a downed pine tree along the side of a road in Blythewood. Deputies were equipped with chainsaws to help cut down trees and limbs.

The city is bracing for more trouble with strong winds from Tropical Storm Irma.

“The later it gets, the winds are supposed to get stronger,” city spokeswoman Leshia Utsey said. The worst of tropical storm-force winds are forecast from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., she said. Meteorologists at the National Weather Service say gusts could reach 60 mph.

To report downed trees in Columbia, call 803-545-3300. A back-up line is 803-252-9211, Utsey said.

Everyone is warned to stay away from storm-damaged areas, including damaged or downed trees and power lines.

For emergencies, 911. All other calls in the city limits, dial 803-252-2911.

Check back for more information about damage in the Midlands cause by Irma. And send photos and damage reports to online@thestate.com.

This story was originally published September 11, 2017 at 1:44 PM with the headline "Wind downs trees around Columbia, including onto apartment owned by SC Gov. McMaster."