CAYCE, S.C. — The City of Cayce has issued a voluntary evacuation for a neighborhood along the Congaree River, as the river is set to crest to levels that may equal the 2015 flood. The situation is the latest impact from Tropical Storm Helene's devastating path through the Carolinas.
Cayce Mayor Elise Partin said the city's public safety department was going door-to-door in the Riverland Park neighborhood Sunday advising people that the best idea was to get out before the water got too high.
The National Weather Service in Columbia said Sunday the Congaree at Columbia was forecast to reach major flood stage Sunday night and crest at 31.0 feet early Monday afternoon. If that projection holds, the crest is near the 2015 value of 31.8 feet.
In a video posted online, Partin said the boat landing and the Riverwalk were already flooded. News19 went to the area Sunday night and found water covering some of the streets inside the neighborhood.
"My wife, she thinks we should wait and see," said one man News19 spoke to. "But I'm saying the guy told me when he came through, he told me that it's gonna be worse than 2015 in 2015 was pretty rough. So I think it's time to go. Yeah."
Another person said he's planning on leaving.
"Right now we're just getting things ready and packing some to go bags just in case and getting our affairs in order," he said "And so if some things change rapidly and we need to leave then, then we'll do that."
The weather service said high waters could be a problem in the Broad River as well. Lake Wateree in Fairfield County was set to crest Sunday, a day after waters were already creeping up to people's homes who live on the river.