Officials continue to warn of serious flooding as Debby prepares to drench SC again

While Tropical Storm Debby has been less catastrophic for South Carolina than originally feared, state emergency management officials continue to urge residents to not let their guard down.

As of Wednesday afternoon, no fatalities or injuries have been reported because of Tropical Storm Debby, state officials said at a media briefing Wednesday afternoon. Still, Gov. Henry McMaster and other state officials continue to caution South Carolinians about the potential for severe flooding as the storm is set to make its second South Carolina landfall, this time near Myrtle Beach late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.

McMaster compared the storm to a three-act play, likening Debby’s return to land as the second act, where the system is anticipated to primarily impact the northern part of the state near Myrtle Beach.

“Then the third act will be after the rains are gone, and all that water that has not finish coming through the rivers will crest and come through,” McMaster said. “We may have some of that before the rain ends, but we will certainly have more of that after the rains end.”

John Quagliariello of the National Weather Service in Columbia advised that anyone traveling needs to continue to use extreme caution to avoid flooded roadways.

“This heavy rain will cause considerable rises on area rivers, with many going into moderate flood,” Quagliariello said. “Of particular concern for major flooding is the little Pee Dee River near Gallivans Ferry, and the Edisto River near Gibbons Ferry.”

“The Pee Dee is the next area (of impact), and we urge people to remember ... when we had other hurricanes, what parts of their neighborhoods flooded, because chances are it’s going to happen again,” McMaster said.

Debby has strengthened as it continues to swirl off the South Carolina coast, with wind speeds at about 60 mph early Wednesday afternoon, according to Quagliariello.

The storm was moving northeast at 3 mph Wednesday afternoon and could strengthen further before making landfall.

“Its greatest impacts will still be the potential for considerable flash flooding and significant long term river flooding,” Quagliariello said.

Rainfall amounts so far have ranged from nine to 17 inches across the southern part of the state, with some of the highest totals so far in areas like Colleton, Charleston, Buford, Jasper, Hampton, Berkeley, Dorchester, Barnwell and Bamberg counties, Quagliariello said.

Currently, outer rain bands from Debby are impacting the eastern half of the state, and additional rainfall of four to eight inches is possible across the northeast part of South Carolina, Quagliarillo added. The rest of the state could get an additional two to four inches.

Preliminary damage estimates from Charleston and Colleton Counties include 64 ravished homes, with the majority being in Colleton County, according to Emergency Management Division Director Kim Stenson.

In addition, Berkeley, Colleton and Horry Counties are reporting a total of six businesses with some level of damage. Infrastructure damage is currently limited to road damage due to flooding, Stenson said.

Residents are encouraged to call the state’s public information phone system at 1-866-256-0133 for any questions related to the storm.

This story was originally published August 7, 2024 at 3:55 PM.

Javon L. Harris

The State

Javon L. Harris is a crime and courts reporter for The State. He is a graduate of the University of Florida and the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University. Before coming to South Carolina, Javon covered breaking news, local government and social justice for The Gainesville Sun in Florida. Support my work with a digital subscription