ORANGEBURG COUNTY, S.C. — Orangeburg County schools will remain closed on Monday as the county grapples with extensive road damage caused by recent flooding.
On Sunday afternoon, the Orangeburg County School District shared that it had decided to keep schools closed on Monday because more than 140 roads were still deemed impassible or unsafe for drivers.
The district said it is working with emergency management at the state and local levels to assess the road conditions and establish safe bus routes.
"Ensuring the safety of our students and staff is our top priority, and we are fully committed to this responsibility," school officials said in a statement. "We understand that this decision may cause disruption for many families, but we are confident that prioritizing safety is the right choice."
Orangeburg County and neighboring communities are just beginning to recover from historic flooding that followed 13 inches of rain on Wednesday night. On Saturday, some in town suggested the flooding was worse than they saw during Hurricane Hugo in 1989.
The rain impacted roads, homes and stores in the region. Coroner Samuetta Marshall also attributed the death of a missing woman to the heavy flooding after her vehicle was found in floodwaters on Friday.
The school district said it would continue to provide updates about classes as the information becomes available.
