COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Midlands are home to three major South Carolina waterways: the Saluda, the Congaree and the Broad Rivers.
These three bodies contain water that flows from the Upstate and beyond, through the Midlands, and to the coast.
Parts of the upstate received over 5 inches of rain this week giving those rivers some extra weight to carry.
Eric Frey, Ranger at the Congaree National Park told News19, "Anytime they get rain up there which they had a significant amount- all that water will eventually come down through the Broad and the Saluda and it'll come down through the Congaree and when that happens, we get all that rain water, all that water along with what fell here. And so, that's why we see the extensive flooding."
Some parts of the park are flooded with water from the Congaree River over three miles from the main channel.
Chief Mike Sonefeld and his team at the Irmo Fire District work with other departments to keep an eye on the river waters in their community, "Everyone covers a piece of the water so we're all monitoring. If you look right now, Chestnut Hill subdivision, part of there the river has come up over into their ponds- it's an unbelievable sight," Sonefeld continues, "We know what's out there. We just wait- if someone gets overwhelmed, including us, we're quick to call. We've already got that set up- the surrounding boats, Cayce, West Columbia, Columbia, Lexington- we're all prepared."
Saluda shoals park along the Saluda River closed Many of their facilities because parts of the park are 5 ft under water citing public safety for the main reason.
Experts tell us the rivers are still rising, as more rain is in the forecast this week, "Before we talk about it drying up, let's see how high its actually going to get," Frey says.