The latest flood news developments
FLOOD RECORDS RELEASED
South Carolina streams and rivers hit their highest level ever recorded at 17 places, the U.S. Geological Survey said Thursday in releasing details on the record floods.
Some of the records were set near Kingstree on the Black River, which recorded its highest peak in 87 years, and on Gills Creek in Columbia.
The Gills Creek flood record was set on Devine Street near where the old K-Mart property was recently redeveloped. Peak flows there hit 19.6 feet on Oct. 4. The previous record, set Feb. 24, 1979, was 8.66 feet.
The Congaree River’s peak was the highest since April 8, 1936. The Congaree had a peak stage of 31.8 feet on Oct. 4. The flow peaked at 185,000 cubic feet per second, enough to fill two Olympic sized swimming pools every second.
As much as 17 inches of rain fell on parts of Columbia in several hours time, causing dams to break, homes to flood and people to flee for safety. Ten people died in the metro Columbia area.
RICHLAND, LEXINGTON ROADS
Fort Jackson Boulevard reopened Thursday, clearing a major passageway off Interstate 77 near the Cross Hill Market and Fort Jackson Army base in Columbia.
Flora Drive also reopened in Northeast Richland on Thursday.
Major thoroughfares Decker Boulevard and Percival Road opened in Richland County earlier this week.
Still, about 60 roads remain closed in the county, down from a peak of 133.
In Lexington County, 11 roads remain closed: Barnwell Road, Devils Backbone Road, Durham Drive, Drawdebil Road, Old Ramblin Road, Ottawa Trail/Natchez Street, Sandlewood Drive, Taylor Street, Wilton Road, Windy Road and Woodberry Road.
RICHLAND TAX DEADLINE EXTENDED
Richland County announced Thursday that the S.C. Department of Revenue has approved its plan to extend property tax payment deadlines for all residential and commercial properties an additional 30 days.
That means tax bills will be mailed out in November rather than October. It also means that penalties normally imposed on Jan. 16 will not be added to tax bills until Feb. 17, 2016. This applies to tax bills for real estate property, business personal property, manufacturing properties, and boats and motors that are normally billed and collected at the turn of each year.
Car taxes, which are due throughout the year, are not covered by the extension.
LEXINGTON DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS
Consultants from AMEC will join Lexington County officials in assessing flood damage to 400 homes in the Irmo-St. Andrews area in coming days.
Those reviews are expected to take at least five weeks.
It’s part of the work the company took on after being selected as a storm water adviser last year, County Administrator Joe Mergo said. AMEC was chosen by County Council for a three-year deal over six other firms that bid for the work, records show.
It’s too soon to say how much the reviews will cost since the work will be paid by the hour, Mergo said.
staff reports